Title: From John Adams to Charles Francis Adams, 23 October 1815
From: Adams, John
To: Adams, Charles Francis

Dear Charles
Quincy Octr. 23. 1815

I have heard much of your progress in French German & Russian but little of your Proficiency in Greek and Latin.
I have no great partiality for the pursuit of a great Variety of Languages. I never knew or read of a Man celebrated for reading, writing and speaking Eleven Languages who was good for any thing else.
Greek and latin are indispensible for a Scholar; and with these he may easily acquire enough of Italian Spanish and French, for a Gentleman or a Man of Business to know.
As you write So elegant a hand, you can easily give me an Account of your School and your Studies, which I am very anxious to know.
Your Cousin John Adams Smith will deliver this Letter to you. and I hope he will be kind to you and that you will be respectfully affectionate to him. You must converse with him in French.
My Love to Parents and Brother, all of whom I long to embrace.
A.


Title: From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 23 October 1815
From: Adams, Abigail Smith
To: Adams, John Quincy

My dear Son
Quincy October 23d 1815

The vessels which I have already written by have been detaind: by contrary winds, and give me an opportunity of adding a few more lines. Your Father has also written to you, and as according to Deans Swifts practise, he usually Submits his Letters to the inspection of the Old Lady, for her approbation, or dissent, altho he will not always alter. In a Letter written this morning, more from feeling, than deliberate judgment, it is written "That you will not do harm" that I believe, but that you can do no good for your Country, is what I do not believe, or that no good was done by the writer, when placed in a similar situation.
When ever you are convinced that is the case, I know you will not any longer remain in it.
A Captain of a vessel, whose name I have forgotten, but lately returnd from England, and who says that he saw you there sent a message last Evening to your Fathers, "Tell the President that his Son, got the better of the British Commissoners at Ghent, as much as General Jackson did, of the British Army at N Orleans." Altho the Laurels won at Ghent, were shard in common, many here, do not hessitate to say, the largest portion should encircle your Brow.
There is a kind of Enigma, respecting the commercial Treaty, which I do not comprehend, when it is made public, altho ratified; I will explain what I mean.
I cannot say, with your Father that I had no agency in the appointment of the Secretary of Legation.
I did write a Letter to mrs Madison, and one to mr Rush, Saying that he was a young Gentleman of a fair character, and steady habits, had been educated to the Bar &c My Letters were mere Letters of introduction, as he then expected to go himself to Washington, altho they might have a weight, the coppies of the Letters which I inclose to you, with some, others of minor consequence, were those which obtaind for him the appointment—Johns tender affectionate and assiduous attention to his Mother, in her last sickness, endeard him to me. She used to say of him, that he had not any habits of dissipation or disposition to expence; that he knew the value of property by being obliged to earn it himself. I hope he will prove himself acceptable to you.
We are in usual health, altho since the Hurricane, a universal influenza prevails, in many cases: Lung fevers—Mr Boyleston has been very dangerously sick. Your Father went with me to visit him a few days since, he inquired very kindly after you, and requested to be affectionatly rememberd to you, I doubt whether he ever recovers—
our good and ancient friend Dr Tufts still lives, decayed be sure, but useful and active still. his granddaughter Lucy, who married about three years ago a merchant in Boston by the name of Turbel, is soon going to England, and will take Letters to you—
My best Love awaits your dear wife to whom I shall soon write, and thank her for a Letter lately received by way of Baltimore, dated 6 August, the latest we have had—Mrs F B Adams complains that she had not had a line in return for two Letters written to her. Your Brother also wonders he does not get Letters from you, the Evening and my paper / bid me close, Yours as ever,

A Adams


Title: To John Adams from William Stephens Smith, 24 October 1815
From: Smith, William Stephens
To: Adams, John

					Dear Sir—
					Valley, near the Town of Hamilton, County of Madison Octr. 24. 1815

				In your last letter from Quincy of April 4th. you wished I would furnish you with a Copy of Hamiltons Letter to Miranda and asked in what Journal, Magazine, Review or Newspaper it s deposited—At the time, I could only furnish Mirandas Letter to Hamilton, since my return home I have found among my books a Vol entitled South American emancipation a London edition By J.M. Antipara, a Native of Guayaquil printed by R. Juigne No. 17 Margaret Street Cavendish Square.In the Review, (extracted from the publication, entitled The Edenburgh review for January 1810) of Lettre Aux Espagnols—Americans, you will find enteresting & worth your perusal—in page 20—reference to appendix E page 178 is the Letter you enquire after—and is as follows:Letter from General Hamilton to General MirandaNew York, August 22. 1798.Sir, I have received, by duplicates, your letter of the 6th. of april, with a postscript of the 9th. of June. The Gentleman you mention in it has not made his appearance to me, nor do I know of his Arrival in this Country; so that I can only say divine the object from the hints in your Letter.The Sentiments I entertain with regard to that Object, have been long since in your Knowledge; but I could personally have no participation in it, unless patronised by the Government of this Country. It was my wish that matters had been ripened for a Cooperation—in the course of this fall, on the part of this Country; but this can now scarce be the case. The winter, however, may mature the project, and an effectual co-operation by the United States may take place. in this  case I shall be happy, in my official Station to be an Instrument in so good a Work. The plan in my opinion ought to be a fleet of Great Britain, an Army of The United States—a government for the liberated territories, agreable to both the co-operators, about which there will be probably no difficultyTo arrange the plan, a competent authority from Great Britain to Some person here, is the best expedient. Your presence here will, in this case, be extremely essential.We are raising an Army of about 12.000 men. General Washington has resumed his Station at the head of our Armies; I am appointed Second in command.  With esteem and regard I remain / Your very obedient Servant(Signed) A. HamiltonIf you cannot obtain this Book in Boston, it can be sent you from England, or if you wish to peruse it now I will send it to you by, post—  With affectionate regards to Mrs. A. and the family, I am Dr. Sir / Yours affectionately—

					W. S. Smith


Title: From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 27 October 1815
From: Adams, Abigail Smith
To: Welsh, Harriet

Dear Harriet
fryday Noon 27 October 1815

Since last monday, I have not been able to write you a line. I lived in bodily fear of the prevailing seve Disease knowing that an attendent was a distressing cough. on monday morning I rose all well as usual, compleated my Letters which were to go by John, and Sent them to the port. I Soon found I had a voilent fever in my head, accompanied with pain, which increasd with voilence, and my Eyes straind with water my Limbs Soon shared the Same agony. Susan was seizd about the Same time with a voilent oppression at her stomach, Sickness and puking. She took half of Emetic as She usually does in her Sickness the next day found herself Still worse; on tuesday the dr gave me an emetic, which was Eight hours in opperation, not with voilence but faithfully, it gave me great releif. but the cough has seazd us both; and we Bark at each other, raising with much difficulty, a good deal of fever accompanies us, we take Squill pills Barley water &c, it is a voilent and afflicting distemper, our three labouring men have been Sick with it, and little Graney, as they, call her has a share of it—not a family round us has escaped. I got a Letter from Caroline 21st, while She could write She Says, writes me that She had a false allarm, and was very Sick. but Since She had been better than before, I long to hear that She is well abed—I hope the next post will bring us agreable intelligence—Louisa Sent in the Letter which came with mine to you, thanks for the oranges and tamorines tamarinds
I hope I Shall be able to See your Father & Mother here next week—in the morning before they come out will you request them to get me a pr fowls or good goose &c Supply the means
I inclose you a memo will you be So good as to Send the articles if convenient, keep the remainder of the money in your hands now are currents? any raisons to be had—
I have a Letter from George Adams dated 22 August—the P. has one from George mr Adams of 31. you must come Soon then you may read them all Yours as ever

A

I enclose ten dollarsplease to add a pd oatmeal to the other articles—I omitted the oil hearing the flask might break


Title: From William Smith Shaw to John Quincy Adams, 28 October 1815
From: Shaw, William Smith
To: Adams, John Quincy

					May it please your Excellency, Highly venerable Sir,
					No. 3 St: Albans St: James’s 28th: Octr. 1815

				In consequence of a Letter from my Agent at L”pool I declined going to that place for a passage to South Carolina—I will Sail from the port of London, in the course of a few days, but will wait upon your Excellency personally to take leave, & to be the Carrier of any Dispatches your Excellency may confide to my care prior to my Sailing—Lord Viscount Lowther Arrived at his House 25 Pall Mall Yesterday—I have duly communicated to his Lordship your Excellencys goodness & trouble in the transaction between him & myself. His Lordship cou’d not be otherwise than highly gratified at such Magnanimity His Lordship will take an early Opportunity of personally waiting upon your Excellency to acknowledge his Obligation when I am sure your Excellency will give him every satisfaction in your Power on a late OccasionYour Excellencys / Most hble St:

					W: Shaw


Title: From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, October 1815
From: Adams, John
To: Adams, John Quincy

My very dear sir
Quincy Oct 1815

Mr John C. Gray, Son of your Friend the once Lt. Governor will present this Letter to you. By the Letter, C. in his name, I presume, is signified Chipman, for he is a Grandson by his Mother of John Chipman Esquire a Barrister at Law in Marblehead, with whom I lived very pleasantly a Week at a Tavern in Pownalborough in 1764.
Mr Gray proposes to travel, all over Europe, but wishes for your Advice. Our young Countrymen have an enthusiastic Propensity to Travel: but your Experience as well as your reason will forbid you to indulge him in any extravagant Rambles. Everett, Ticknor are gone and Prescott wishes to go to Athens. God knows whether We Shall not have Crusades repeated in the 19th Century. When will Men be judicious in their Travels, any more than in their private Lives, in their politicks or Religion at home?
There is no Topick of Conversation here, but the devastations of the Hurricane on the 23d of Septr. the day of the Equinox. The details you will See in the Newspapers. Though I have suffered as little as any body, yet an hundred Cord of Wood, ranging Timber and Ship timber, have been blown down besides a great number of valuable Apple Trees on my Farm at Mount Wollaston. Light Buildings Fences and Fruit Trees have Suffered here at home in proportion. But none of these things affect me like the Accident unfortunately befallen my Brother. A Barn of his blown over, and his Activity at 77 years of Age could not be restraind from assisting his Son and his Workmen in taking down the Fragments of the ruins when part of the roof fell and crushed him to the Ground. He Still lives and We hope for his recovery. But he is not out of Danger. Almost deaf for many Years, blind of one Eye and now confined to his bed, he still talks and laughs.
The late Gale, Tornado, Hurricane, call it what you will exceeded any Thing ever known in this Country in the merory of any Person now living. It was far more violent than that in the night between 6th. and 7th. of October 1804. You and I, in 1778 Saw heard and felt a more violent Hurricane, for Several days and nights, on board the Boston Frigate in the Gulph Stream. But I find that a Good Ship commanded by Experienced Officers, obeyed by hardy seamen, can Scudd away before Winds And Waves that would level Houses and Forests on Shore.
There is a temporary calm in our Ocean and Atmosphere of Politicks: but Something or other will Soon occur to kick up a Dust, and conjure up a Breeze. Never fear a stagnation of Air or Water in our Climate.
It is asserted that Mr Strong will not serve another Year. Mr Gore, Mr Otis, Mr Dexter Mr Dearborne, are named. I wonder Mr B. Austin is not. I believe he would be more agreable to the southern States than any other Man.
Mr Monroe is to be President, Mr Tompkins, Mr Clinton, Vice P. unless Mr B. Austin should supplant them both.
Love to the Mother and all her Sons
A.


Title: From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 3 November 1815
From: Adams, John
To: Adams, John Quincy

My dear Sir
Quincy Nov. 3. 1815

Your very instructive letter of 31st. August is the last I have recd. from you. Several to your Mother are missing.
Your Reasoning and expostulations with New England are conclusive and unanswerable
You advise me to read Massillon. Thank you. I advise you to read Carlostad and Scheffmacher. I have read Sixty Years and five more on the Subjects. Had I about me all the Books relative to it which I have seen, and many of which I have read, and had fifty Years to live, I could make the press groan with as many Volumes as Priestly or Voltaire or Wolfius ever dissembogued upon the World. But I should not make one Proselyte nor add an Ounce to the heap of Usefull Knowledge. Priestleys Socrates, his ancient Philosophers and his Hindoos; their pamphletts published in America, I esteem as little as you do. His Judgment Reasoning and Eloquence are not always to be envied: but his Industry, Research, and compilations may be as usefull as they are admirable. His History of the Corruptions &c and of early opinions &c are worth Reading after, or before Dr Waterland, and Dr Clark. Read these and then believe the Athanasian Creed if you can. Read Deausobre too, and trace Plato and Pythagoras to the orientals. But to descend and Sink.
Strong retires: and who is to be Governor? Cabot, Gore, Dexter, Lloyd, Otis, Dearborne, Davis, Parker. All these have been named, and I have named The Honourable Benjamin Austin Esqr. You See We have Governors enough. No need to be at a loss. Monroe has been explicitly enough nominated for President.
I cannot think of the Pope the Inquisition, the Jesuits, the Allies France Spain England Germany &c &c &c.
We have Seen an Age of Reason and now We are to See an Age of Darkness. And which is best?
Remember me to all.
A.


Title: From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 7 November 1815
From: Adams, John
To: Adams, John Quincy

My ever dear Sir
Quincy Nov. 7. 1815

Can you give me any Account of a Translation of the New Testament with notes made by Beausobre and L’Enfant: and Beausobres History of Manicheism of the Adamites of Bohemia, of the Paulicians, of the Waldenses, and Albigenses, of the Brothers of Bohemia &c. in Holland probably they might be purchased cheap; perhaps in London. The Characters of Beausobre and L’Enfant are so eminent in litterature and so excellent as Gentlemen Christians and Phylosophers that I wish to have their principal Works.
As I have read Hugh Farmoi on Demons, I wish to read Balthasar Bekkers “Monde enchante”. 4 Vol. in 12o. in which he attempts to prove that no Possessions or Sorcerors ever existed, and that the Devil has nothing to do with Men. My wish to have this Work is increased by the Authors bold challenge to the Devil to defend himself, which however it may be accused of Gasconade, appears to me proof of honesty as well as intrepidity. For the Devil, according to orthodox opinion is a very dangerous Duelist.
My desire to have Beausobre arises from his tracing so many Chymeras through Plato and Pythagoras to the orientals and from all these down to the Christians.
How many hypotheses have been imagined to reconcile the origin of Evil with Wisdom and Goodness infinite? And Frederick wrote one as silly as any of them in Verse, in which he took his system from Pythagoras who borrowed it, in India
Nov. 9th
Arrived your Letter to your Mother No. 35 and Georges to me No. 6 George has been very good in writing so often and given me so good an account of his Studies. Thank him for me and pray him to persevere. You will soon have another nepotical Secretary who I hope will do his duty.
Though your Letters are the delight of my life, I pray you to give yourself no concern about the regularity of your Answers or originals to me. I know the importance of your moments and the perpetual demands upon them.
On my 80th anniversary and De Wints 28th a great Grandchild was born. May Caroline on or about her 80th have a great Grandson or Daughter, and may Heaven bless them in all generations: and Abigail too and her fine Boy and William and Kitty with whom I still mourn the loss of theirs. I feel a pang at the loss of every Spring that has fallen of the 1. 2. or 3d Generation. It is very ungenteel in these days of Politeness and civilization to have so numerous a Posterity: but I cannot help it, and would not if I could.
I am sometimes honoured with a Visit by our Naval Conquerors and military Heros who seem pleased to see the Octogenarian descending so smoothly, the Hill, he ascended so roughly. I had one last Week from 9 or 10 at a time with Major General Brown at their Head who is a fine military Figure and appears well accomplished for his Rank and Reputation.
Mr Tarbel and his Lady, born Lucy Tufts will soon be in London. Whether this Letter goes by them or not, they will want no Recommendation or Introduction to you or yours. She is of your own blood and a Granddaughter of my never failing Friend Dr Tufts.
A.


Title: From John Adams to John Peter De Windt, 8 November 1815
From: Adams, John
To: De Windt, John Peter

My Dear Sir
Quincy November 8th 1815

your delightful letter of the 31st of October, has made us all happy, and seems to be a sensible gratification to the whole village.
I congratulate you and our dear Caroline, your mother & your whole family on this joyful Event.
I am not enough of an Astrologer to conjecture by what conjunction of the planets it happened the child was born on your birth day and on mine. When she shall be capable of understanding the language tell her that her Great Grand Father is but little older than her, only 80 years. and that is but a span but although life is short, yet is a very precious blessing, and every moment of it, ought to be employed and improved to the best advantage. I pray God to bless you all, being with great regard, affectionately yours

John Adams


Title: From Abigail Smith Adams to Thomas Baker Johnson, 9 November 1815
From: Adams, Abigail Smith
To: Johnson, Thomas Baker

					my Dear Sir
					Quincy Nov’br 9th 1815

				I received your Letter, bearing date july 1815 you must excuse me for not nameing the day of the month not having the Letter to refer to. writing to your Sister Adams a day or two after receiving it, I could not refrain making her a sharer in the pleasure which the contents of the Letter afforded me, and I inclosed the Letter to her.Since I received yours I have received two Letters from her, one dated in july, and the last, the 6th of August in which she makes mention of you, in the tenderest manner, expressing her anxiety for your Health. She writes in better Spirits than she has usually experienced. they have taken a House ready furnished for the Summer about 8 miles from the city, at a place calld Ealing, where they enjoy more ease from care, and more freedom for the children than they could in the city. they have the priviledge too of a School for John and Charles—as it happend by chance, the House where they reside is calld Boston House, a Name given it, was by the proprietor of it in honour of his Kinsman, Lord Boston. Mr Adams is obliged to keep Rooms in Charles Street Westminster, Londen, in order to accomodate his Countrymen. there is an Act of Parliment, under which no foreigner is permitted to come to England, or reside there, or depart from there, without a licence from the alien office, and he must be provided with a Passport from the Minister of his Nation residing there. neither will they allow any foreigner of what ever Nation, to embark for the united States at a British port, without a passport from the Minister of his Nation endorsed by mr Adams as Minister. he writes me that So constant and numerous have these applications been, together with distressd American Seamen calling for releif, that he has not had a leisure moment Since his first arrival in England, as Congress do not allow a private Secretary, and no Secretary of Legation had then been appointed; he had to perform all these duties himself. I have been thus particular, feeling that you take an interest in whatever concerns your absent Friendsyour many and constant acts of kindness to various members of your Family, are not wholy unknown to me, nor unacknowledgd by them. your dear Mother used frequently to make mention of them, and your widowd Sister acknowledges your Brotherly kindness to her with the warmest gratitude.and how much greater must be your pleasure when you reflect upon these acts of benevolence, than if you had expended your property, in dissipation and folly.Blessed are the Mercifull, for they shall find mercy. the American Historian will do, I most ardently hope justice, to the valour and Heroic deeds of all parties, and Nations, who united in defence of New orleans—From Great Britain, we cannot expect either candour, truth or Justice. if what Cobbet writs is true, for he tells us that in the village where he resides, not a person belonging to it, but what  fully beleives, that the British gave the Yankees a heavy drubing, and this is the opinion of the common people throughout the Kingdom, who are kept in ignorance of the truth—What shall I say of France? in the laconic words of your Sister—that she has got Louis the 18th!!and what shall we Say of the Allies? That in possessing power, they forget Right. what a lesson for America—the only Land of freedom left upon the Globe. what a call upon her, for union, for strength to hold fast that anchor of safety. all Nations will envy us, and Strive to divide us—the only means by which we can ever be subdued, or conquerd.May Heaven in mercy, avert so great calamityI have written to your sister Smith, and informd her of Your wish to hear from her. She has been in much affliction since her arrival in America; having lost her little daughter: my first Great Grandchild—Since that event, I have had two others, one a daughter of my Son Charles married to a Name Sake of yours, a mr Johnstone, of utica in the State of Nyork. She presented me with a Great Grandson  this Month, whom she has named for her Grandfather John Adams, and upon his entrance into his 80th year, my dear Caroline De Wint, the only daughter of my beloved mrs Smith, was delived of a daughter upon the 30 of october, and this too happend to be its Fathers Birth day also, so you see the race is not like to be extinct—I have written to you as I consider You, a member of our Family, whom I Love for his virtues, and respect for the benevolence of his character—If you see any of mr C Harrods family, present my Regards to them, and tell them their Brothers Family in Quincy are well. Let me hear often from you—and I will in return give you all the intelligence which from time to time I receive from your Friends abroadwith Sincere Regard I Subscribe / Your Friend

					A Adams


Title: From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 9 November 1815
From: Adams, Abigail Smith
To: Adams, John Quincy

					My Dear Son
					Quincy Nov’br 9th 1815

				I this day received your Letter No 75 24th August by way of Newyork—Your Father had received one of a later date 31 August, in which you mention this to me.—I have written to you, and to Mrs Adams and the Children by Mr Smith, who saild from Nyork the begining of the Month, in the Minerva for LiverpoolI thank you for the minute, and particular account you have given me of your Labours, and occupations which I presumed were more abundant, altho the Nature of some of them were untill now unknown to us.I had just been reading Shepards journal in France in the years 1802 and in 1814: and there was informd of the difficulty he found to procure passports, and licence to go to France. in one of the offices he says he paid 2, 17 and 9 pence sterling fees. I presume no such perquisites pertain to the office of the American Minister, or the sound of it would have reachd America before now; with the poor sailors I expected you would be surrounded. those which have been liberated and returnd Home, have most of them enterd again into the service of their Country. Young Marston a midshipman on Board the Frigate Washington told us last Sunday Evening, that they had six hundred of them on Board their Ship. Col Aspinwall who lost an Arm in the service of his Country, is appointed Consul, and is gone out, and will releive you from some of your cares. I am too heedless to Number; as you do, my Letters to you; a correct coppy I never have, for sometimes in my second Edition, there is little of the first, save the date, and NameI beleive I have noted to you, in my former Letters, all which I have received from you. As the war has ceased in America, that fruitfull subject, which always furnishd a Topic to write upon, has ceased also, and I shall be reduced to the state of Madam Sevigne, to write of myself, or of those most dear to me, and as by experience, I know those Letters, to be most interesting to me, which relate Family occupations, occurrence, and situations I shall not make any scruple, or aplogy, for proceeding to inform you; of the Birth of a Great Grandson upon the third of October by the Name of Johnson, and upon the 30th, the Aniversary of your Fathers Birth day, and of that of its own Father also, was Born unto us a Great Grandaughter, by the Name of De Wint, a stout Girl, weighing Nine pounds.The two Grandaughters appear to be very happily connected, with worthy virtuous partners, in easy, and the world say, oppulent, circumstances. they areYour Brothers Family is like to increase. he has been absent a fortnight at the Court, in Nantucket, the Vineyard and plimouth in Succession. he feels much hurt, that he has not received a line from you or the Children, since their arrival in England Mrs Adams says she has written two Letters to Mrs Adams, which have not been acknowledged as received. Johns last Letter to me, he requests to be rememberd to them.—Can there be any cause for this?Novbr 18thI began this Letter upon the 9th. the Hurricane influenza, as it is call’d attackd me with voilence, and wholy unfitted me, for my pen, and it has left me, with a pain in my Eye Balls—and an inflamationUpon the 16th I received your Letter of 11th Sepbr No 76. and the Childrens Letters, and the Memoirs of the Life of Dr Price in which I feel much interested. his is a character, which does honour to humane Nature. His Biographer when he quoted the Letter of your Fathers, has not done it with the candour he ought. the Letter has proved History, and he ought to have confesed it, instead of calling “them harsh censures and gloomy predictions” of a splenetic mind. they have proved the Sober reflections of an unbiassed understanding—one only sentance I regret, is that in which he says “I know not what to think of a Republic of thirty Millions of Atheists” the observation was too broad and unlimited—altho it was at a period when the Godess of Reason was Created and Worshiped by these Mad people—yet I beleive there were many true worshipers to be found in the Nation. I will send you a Coppy of the Letter. Amongst the strange things of the present day which have appeard, is an Eulogium by mr Thomas Cooper, the Friend of Dr Preistly, and the libeller of your Father when president. in a late Number of the Port folia, he says “mr Adams’s defence of the constitution of the Unites States, however his opinions, may be controverted on this side of the Atlantic, is such a condensed view of the merrits, and defects of the various Forms of Government, ancient and modern, as is no where else to be found, so far as I know.—an English man would probably admire more than I do, but mr Adams has certainly furnishd ample materials for Reflection to those who differ from his  political Creed. England can show no such work—The triffling and popular panegyric of De Lolme, is not to be compared with it.”Mr Cooper is said to have quitted politicks and has engaged in scientific and literary dissensions, and doing much good in diffusing a usefull Zeal for Letters throughout our countryI do not know whether the president thought a Letter of credence to the Queen necessary for your admission to her Majesty. Your Father had an audience, without, altho he apologized to her for the omission—he did not however take leave of her, as she was sick at the time. if it is meant only as a personal compliment to her I do not care whether you ever see her. We owe her no Respect. She always endeavourd to show in public a Slight to me, when ever, the first time excepted that I attended her drawing Room—she would speak to the Lady upon my Right hand, and left, passing me in my turn, with a courtly stare in my face and when she had thus distinguishd me she could condescend to speak to meI do not know that I ever had a haughty air in my Life, but this I know I felt a contempt for her conduct.Not so with poor old George—he always treated me with equal civility and Respect as any other Ladies at Court, and gave me as hearty a kiss, when I was presented to him—how my successors have been treated I never heard, or inquired—As I was the first Lady at her court after our seperation from Britain, and our Independence, She might feel herself humbled in being obliged to receive me—I would neither then, or now exchange situations with her, or her hopefull Family—I presume this Letter will be deliverd to you by mr Tarbel, who married the Eldest daughter of Cotton Tufts Esqr of Weymouth, and Grandaughter to our venerated Friend dr Tufts. She accompanies her Husband, and will visit you. Mr Tarbel is a Merchant, of respectable standing, and fair Character, goes abroad to form commercial connections—I have more to say upon various other subjects, which my paper obliges, and my Eyes warn me to leave to an other opportunity—I want to hear something of the Statuary & paintings you visited in Paris.affectionatly your Mother

					A Adams


Title: From John Adams to Charles Francis Adams, 17 November 1815
From: Adams, John
To: Adams, Charles Francis

My dear Charles,
Quincy Nov 17th 1815

Your beautiful letter of Sept 11th has given me great pleasure. You are at a very respectable Academy, and have all the means, & advantages for instruction that I could wish for you. You must have made a rapid progress, in your Nomenclature, if in so short a time, you can distinguish the faces, and call the names of 140 out of 275 of your fellow Students
I wish I could have the benefit and accommodation of the cavalry of Ealing. One of the Ladies Donkeys, would suit me better than my Rozinante, 17 or 18 hands high. Six and thirty years ago, as your father can tell you, I rose over a great part of the Asturian & Pyrenian Mountains in Spain, on a beautiful Mule, and I would now give more for that little animal for my own use, than for the best horse, at the Newmarket races. I could roll from my Donkey or Mule, with little danger, but a fall from my tall horse, would be too much for 80 years.
General Scott, whom I know, is so well bred a gentleman, and so gallant a Hero, that I am very glad, you have seen him. No wonder he would not talk about the battles of Chippewa, & Bridgewater. He had gathered too many laurels there, to give you an account of them without an appearance of vain glory.
If you learn all the languages & arts, that you enumerate, there is nothing wanting for your Education at present, provided always, that you learn wisdom too, which does not always attend the most brilliant accomplishments; I should wish you, however, hereafter to give some attention to the Italian & Spanish languages; at least, so far, as to become acquainted, with their Grammar & dictionaries, that you may be able to find the sense of a word or a phrase, & that you may in any future time, pursue the language to any extent, of future occasions, should demand it. I am, my dear child, with much anxiety, for your future welfare, your affectionate Grand Father
John Adams.


Title: From John Adams to George Washington Adams, 17 November 1815
From: Adams, John
To: Adams, George Washington

Dear George—
Quincy Nov. 17th. 1815.

I have received your pleasing letter of Sept. 12. Your Situation is indeed delightful: But I hope you think more of the Musick of the Swan of Thames, than of the house of Dr Todd or the Miss Porters. Twickenham and Chiswick deserve your respect.
Richmond Hill is familiar to me. There I visited Governor Pounall and Mr Richard Penn. M.P. I rambled about the place and Saw its beauties. But I lived afterwards at Richmond Hill in New York a grander Scene of Nature and in many respects more elegant.
Windsor you ought to visit, at once the Monarchs and the Muses Seats. You ought to see it, if it were only to interest you more and Sharpen your Taste for Popes Windsor Forest.
There is however, no End in visiting the Glories of England, in her Gentlemens Seats in the Country. The Gardens, the pleasure grounds, the ornamented Farms, the cultivation of the grounds, exceed every thing in Europe. Nevertheless, take this Truth along with your Admiration. The owners of these enchanting Scenes take little Satisfaction in them. Watering Places Horse Races &c have more Charms. These Paradises are Sometimes, though by their philosophical Proprietors, to be pretty Baubles fit to be played away at a Game of Cards. I visited many of these Masterpieces of Art, Taste and Expence. Paine’s Hill, the Wobourn Farm, the Lesscaus Hagley, The Marlborough Farm at Blenheim, the Seat of Lord Peters in Essex, Lord Edgcomes Seat by Plymouth and many others, And above all Stow the Seat of the Marquis of Buckingham. I was fascinated with Admiration: but in the End I was wearied disgusted, with the endless Repetition of Artificial Magnificence and Expence. The surface of this Earth, is not our permanent Abode, and however We may refine, decorate and polish it, can never give Us Satisfaction. All the Pleasures of Agriculture and Horticulture may be found on 100 Acres as well as upon 10,000.
Make yourself Master of Greek and you will derive more comfort more pleasure more real happiness and Solid Glory from that Language than you could from the Possession of Chantilly or Stow. For the truth of this I believe I might appeal to the best Judges in the World, the Three Grenvilles.
In order to acquire this previous Blessing begin at the beginning; conquer your indolence write down every letter of the Alphabet and every abbreviated Character, and write Copy after copy till you make yourself Master of every letter and every Character, and can read them and write them as easily and familiary as your English Letters. It is really Shamefull, that at your Age and with your Advantages you Should be So Superficial as you are in Greek and Latin. You have now, the greatest of all possible Advantages in the Instructions of your Father; and if you do not profit by it effectually, you will deserve no favour from your Friends, who have a Right to demand of you, a close Application to your duty. Your time will be better employed at present, upon the learned Languages than in reading Marshall or Robertson, who will divert your attention from your proper Studies and perhaps give you incorrect Ideas of the History both of Scotland and America.
I am, my dear child with more Solicitude for your good Conduct than you / can imagine, your ever affectionate
A.


Title: From John Adams to John Adams, 18 November 1815
From: Adams, John
To: Adams, John

My dear John
Quincy Nov. 18. 1815

I am charmed with the Chirography of your Letter of the Eleventh of September to your Grandmother. If your proficiency in your other Studies is in proportion to your improvement in your hand writing you will soon be a first rate Scholar. Your Account of the Accademy at Ealing is quite Satisfactory. If under Such Masters pursuing Such Studies and Exercises, with Such Companions, you do not lay the foundation of a good and Usefull and agreable Man, you will deserve to be ducked from the Yard Arm on your return to your Country.
You and your Brother Charles must be young Gentlemen of close Attention and critical Observation, to be able to distinguish the Names Faces, Figures gaits and Airs of 140 out of 275 of your Comrads in so short a time. I hope you will conduct with the Utmost Civility, Kindness and respect towards the whole 275 and especially be Submissive and obedient to your Masters.
I learn with pleasure, that you have at the Boston house a pretty Garden of Fruits and Vegetables. You can as yet have no Idea of the felicity of a little garden and a little Farm, in old age, after passing through the Storms of Life.
I am glad you have a Pew in Ealing Church: but you have not told Us whether it is Episcopalian or Presbyterian, who are the Clergymen who officiate, nor whether the Church resembles the Episcopalian or the Congregational Church in Quincy. of whatever denomination it may be, I hope you will continue to Attend it, every Sunday.
You have, my dear Child, Advantages which ought to excite your most thoughtful Consideration. As very few of your Countrymen have ever enjoyed Such means and Opportunities as yours; more will be justly expected from you than from the common run of american Scholars; and it becomes your duty, not to disappoint Such reasonable Expectations.
You are as yet too young to determine on a Profession for Life. Wait till you have time for mature consideration of the Health and Strength of your Body, the qualities of your Mind and the Propensities of your heart. Some Profession you must pursue
And may Heaven bless you in whatever virtuous Course you may take.
John Adams.


Title: From John Adams to William Stephens Smith, 21 November 1815
From: Adams, John
To: Smith, William Stephens

Quincy Novbr. 21st. 1815

I thank you for your for two Letters from the Valley; one dated October 4th. the other November the first, 1815.
The Documents to which you refer are of so much Importance to your Reputation and to mine, that I wish you would depose it, the Sketch you have made of them, somewhere in print. It is at my Age impossible for me to look up the Scattered Volumes in which they are to be found and my Son who has Just returned from a Circuit as a Judge through Marthas Vineyard and Nantucket and who is this moment Setting off to hold his Court in Plymouth, and whose whole year is employed in presiding in his Court in Taunton, Barnstable, Plymouth Dedham, and those Islands, besides the Affairs of his Brother his own growing Family and too much of my little private Affairs; to be able to give me any Assistance in collecting such a Variety of Pamphlets.—
From those Pamphlets however and from Mr. Kings Letters and from Mirandas Communications to me, which I have in my desk, and from the movements among my Ministers; it is apparent—
1st. that Mr Pitt and his British Cabinet, had long employed corrupted Jesuits and Spies in Concert with Miranda to excite Insurrection and Revolution in South America against Spain—
2d That they meditated an Expedition for that purpose under Miranda—3d That they intended to Dupe me and Congress into the Quixotical adventure
3d That Hamilton was in Intelligence with them and willing to co-operate with them in the Execution of their plan—
4. There is reason to believe that General Hamiltons confidential Friends among whome were most of my Ministers were in the Secret and disposed to assist in it, and afterwards excited such a Clamour against me for putting a stop to “Enterprises of great Pith and moment” by my peace with France in 1801.
5. The United States were then at peace with Spain. Our participation in the project of Pitt Miranda and Hamilton would have involved Us in War with Spain France Holland and all their then Allies, and thrown Us inevitably into the Ares and Alliance of Great Britain.—
6 I saw all this at a glance upon the first receipt of Mirandas dispatches, which determined me more inflexibly upon a measure to which I was always inclined a Peace with France as soon as it could be accomplished upon honourable Conditions.—
If ever any historian should condescend to attempt an honest narration of my Administration, he ought to examin all the documents which you have enumerated, and for this purpose I wish to see your Sketch in print, Without exposing your name you may easily place them in some Magazine or Journal.—
I congratulate you on your pleasant Tour among your Friends Constituents and Relations and Especially on your Daughters Felicity: but I ought not to omitt to condole with you on the loss of your first Grand Child—I should have been glad if your Affairs would have permitted a Visit to Quincy: but I hope you will write to me as often as your Convenience will allow—
I am Sir affectionately yours
John Adams


Title: From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 22 November 1815
From: Adams, John
To: Adams, John Quincy

My dear Sir
Quincy Nov. 22 1815

I thank you for the Memoirs of Doctor Price. Though there is little in this Work which was new to me, except the Calvinism of the Doctors Father and Uncle. Yet I love to run over again the Passages of a Life which I esteemed and loved as one of the wisest and most benevolent of the human Race.
I Shall not review this Pamphlet, and have nothing to Say in praise or censure of it, except that Small portion which relates to me.
In page 158 Mr Morgan mentions a long Letter written by me to Dr Price; and he “does it off, with a Jerk.”
In the first place I Should be glad to be informed, by what rule of Civility Mr Morgan after the Example of Mr Belsham, finding private Letters in the Cabinet of a great and good Man after his Decease, written a quarter of a Century before by Friends in another Hemisphere still living; Letters written in the Utmost freedom of the unlimited Confidence of intimate Frienship: has published those Letters to the whole World in print, without the consent of the Writers.
Dr Disney took another course. Finding some transient Letters of mine among the Papers of Mr Hollis, he would not print them without my Knowledge. He wrote to me and though I had forgotten the Letters I Submitted them to his discretion. I should have done the Same to Mr Morgan, or rather I Should have enjoined upon him to print the whole Letter, or omit it altogether. If he had inserted the Letter entire, I Should have troubled him nor myself no any more about it.
I Shall not attempt a Justification Apology or explaination. The History of the World is too awfull a commentary upon that Letter, for twenty five Years.
In page 159 Mr Morgan says “Dr Price had every Reason to entertain a very different Opinion from that of Mr Adams.”
Here I differ materially from the opinion of Mr Morgan. Dr Price instead of having “every Reason” to support his opinion, wanted many.
1. He wanted Knowlege of the French Nation. He had never been in France. He  could neither Speak read or understand their Language. He read none of their Journals Gazettes or Pamplets. He knew not, that in a population of five and twenty Millions there were not more than five hundred thousands who could read. Had he known this he would have Seen intuitively, the impossibility of establishing a free Government in the form of a representative Democracy in a Single Assembly.
2 Dr Price knew not the hatred of a popular Prince of the Blood of the Second Order, whose property Influence and Power were very great, against the Princes of the first. Had he known this he might have trembled for the King, as I did. And more Still if he had known the Envy of Some if not all of the Families of highest Quality, most important Dignities most Splendid Wealth and extensive influence, against the King and his Brothers.
3 Dr Price had not human Nature in favour of his Opinion. This was wholly against it.
4. The History and Experience of Mankind were not favourable to him. In no part of the World, nor in any Age of it, had there ever been an Example of a Revolution of a great Nation from Monarchy to free Government.
5 The French constitution of 1789 was not a reason in Support of his Opinion. On the contrary it was a conclusive reason against it. Notwithstanding the excellent Moral Maxims and political Principles with which that Constitution was enriched; there was no organization of Power to Secure obedience to those Maxims and Principles. The sovereign Legislative Power was in a Single, popular, representative Assembly: The Sovereign Executive Power in an hereditary Monarch. It is no exageration to Say that these Powers were natural Ennemies: mutually Jealous of each other; each afraid of Encroachments from the other; each eager to encroach upon the other. Dr Price ought to have compared that Constitution to two Gentlemen contending for an Election in one of the potwallaping Burroughs; or if this Emblem was too low he might have compared to another too high, the Manichean System of two equal Independent Principles, one good, the other Evil: both eternally Struggling to counteract each other. Another similitude occurred to me: When Tallerande asked me, what I thought of the King in that Constitution? I answered he was Daniel in the Lyons Den: if he ever escaped alive, it must be by Miracle. The Letter which Mr Morgan commomorates pointed out this essential defect in that Constitution and ought to have put the good Dr. on his Guard. But I was not So fortunate as Mr Hume in putting him on his Guard. Accordingly the National Legislature, hunted the National Executive Authority with as much Zeal and with alternately as long and Short fa the King of Naples with great Phylosopher Sir William Hamilton among his Courtiers ever hunted the Wild Beasts of the forest; and Slaughtered the Royal Family and their Adherents with equal Humanity. Had the Dr lived to See the consequences of his admired Constitution he would long Since have melted into tears and thanked me for this and many other friendly cautions.
But I will proceed no farther at present. I could produce as many Reasons against the Drs Opinion as my learned and ingenious Friend Mr Loft has recorded against the Treatment of Bonaparte. The History of the World for 25 Years has rendered all Arguments against Dr Prices “Every Reason” unnecessary. The Revivals and Awakenings of the Religion of Rome have capped the Climax. What would Dr Price have Said to Revivals of Inquisitions, Sorbonnes Jesuits, Index Expurgatorius Chateaubrians, Genlis and Lucian Bonaparte’s?
I am, my dear Son your affectionate Father
John Adams


Title: From Abigail Smith Adams to William Steuben Smith, 22 November 1815
From: Adams, Abigail Smith
To: Smith, William Steuben

					Dear Sir
					my Birth day and 71 Quincy Novbr 22d 1815

				Inclosed is a Letter from Charles, by the hand writing. I received it yesterday, with a Letter from Mrs Adams dated 2 October: they were all well then, but I presume mrs Smith gets Letters frequently—I cover the Letter to your Father to you I wrote him one last week and sent to the valley, not recollecting that he might have left it. if he has not received it, you will be So good as to tell him—My Love to mrs Smith, I Sympathize with her, in the recent affliction of her FamilyYours affectionatly

					A Adams


Title: From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to Abigail Smith Adams, 24 November 1815
From: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson
To: Adams, Abigail Smith

					My Dear Mother
					Ealing Novbr. 24th. 1815

				I found your note this morning on my plate when I enterred the breakfast room and hasten to offer you my congratulations on the birth of your Little Grandson for whose happiness and welfare in this world of trouble I most sincerely pray may he prove a joy and blessing to his Parents.Mr. Adams has been afflicted with an inflamation in his eyes which terminated in an Abcess in the under-lid of the left eye and occasioned for a time most accute sufferring he is thank God much recovered but the eye still continues very weak and I fear it will be long ere he will be able freely to use it and return to his usual occupations his health in general is good and he still keeps up his em-bose point—I am obliged to close my Letter as Mr. Adams is going immediately into Town John is quite recovered from his fever but does not take kindly to Europe Present me affectionately to all the family and believe me with much respect ever yours

					L. C. A.


Title: From Abigail Smith Adams to Charles Francis Adams, 28 November 1815
From: Adams, Abigail Smith
To: Adams, Charles Francis

					My Dear Charles
					Quincy Novbr 28th 1815

				I thank you my dear Grandson for your very pretty Letter, as you cannot have any remembrance of your Grandparents. it is the more praiseworthy in you, to write to them, and then your hand writeing is so handsome, that it does you honour for your Age.The house which Your Father has taken in the Country, having a Garden full of fruit and vegetables, must be much pleasanter to you, and to your Brothers, than living the Summer months in London, where you must have been in a manner confined—I beleive Osterly place, formerly the seat of mrs Childs, is not far from you, and one of the prettyest places I saw, not upon so large and splendid a scale as many others, but Elegant, and what appeard to be within the grasp of a moderate fortune. ask your Father to carry your Brothers and you to see it. Sion House, is an other seat, near where you, are which I went to see when in England, and I can say with Cowper“England! with all thy faults I Love the Still.your School is upon a very enlarged plan, and must give you an opportunity of learning many usefull Branches of Science. I have heard, that you are already acquainted with Several Languages, and the Latin you will find the easier upon that account.Cultivate Brotherly Love and affection, and be dutifull to your parents, kind and obligeing to all with whom you are connected. this will promote your own happiness, and give me pleasure to hear. /I am your affectionate Grandmother

					A Adams


Title: From Abigail Smith Adams to John Adams, 28 November 1815
From: Adams, Abigail Smith
To: Adams, John

					My dear John
					Quincy Nov’br 28th 1815.

				Your Letter of Sep’br th 11 came safe to hand, and I was well pleasd With the account you give me of your pursuits. if you give proper attention to each department of your Studies, You cannot Spend much Idle time.—you have improved in your hand writing, and in your composition. Your Mother writes me that you learn fast. I know that you have a capacity to acquire what ever with dilligence you apply to.How do the young Gentlemen agree with you, and you with them? where do you Board? What are your School Laws & Regulations? have you different days for different Studies?—and do You feel a Spirit of emulation? Not of envy—abhor that, but in Striveing to excell; there is no Sin, provided you are modest and unassumeing.I like to have you write to me, and hope you will continue to do so. I do not know much about your old school mates at Hingham. Your Cousin Susan is going this week to the annual thanksgiving Ball. She may possibly see miss Elizabeth Andrews. I Suppose you would like to be held in her remembrance—She has the character of a very charming Girl.—have you heard that your cousin Abbe Johnson has a son, whom she has calld John Adams, after its great Grandfather, and Mrs de Wint a daughter, which She has named Caroline-Elizabeth.This week will be our annual thanksgiving. Now I shall miss your Brother, and you, who have for a number of years, celebrated it with me, not forgetting plumb pudding and mince pye—The question which occurs to me, is shall I live to see my Family once more collected under this Roof—It is one of the uncertainties not given me to determine—but while I Live you will be very dear to Your / affectionate Grandmother—

					Abigail Adams—


Title: From Adelaide Hellen to Abigail Smith Adams, 1 December 1815
From: Hellen, Adelaide
To: Adams, Abigail Smith

					Washington December. 1st. 1815.

				How shall I sufficiently thank you My dear Mrs: Adams for your undeviating kindness in two of the Most mournful events of my past life the soothing consolation you offer my dear Madam is drawn from that source which is calculated to calm and resign our minds to those heart rending dispensations of Providence in which religion alone can support us.  In reflecting on the melancholly deprivation I have sustained I have to mourn the loss of a good and Affectionate Husband and a sincere Freind to myself and Family before I was united by stronger ties my Children are deprived of an inestimable Father For the last five years of my poor Husbands existence he was a Martyr to suffering the greatest consolation I experience is from the firm conviction that he died the death of a truly good Christian he was apprised of his danger for some time before his decease and bore his sufferings in this Life with uncommon fortitude and resignation.  He has left four Children three Boys and one Girl his eldest Son Johnson quited me a week after his Fathers death to finish his education at the Colledge in Carlisle he will be sixteen in Febry. his Daughter is his next eldest she is nine and his third Son is about seven my own little Boy is quite young they are all without partiality uncommon fine Children, having had the entire care of them since the death of their poor Mother and my affection for them having grown with their growth I feel no difference in my sentiments for them and my own Child.I have to entreat your advice my dear Madam on a very important subject to me the Will my deceased Husband has left is disaproved of by all my Freinds they wish me to reject it and accept my right of Dower.  I transmit a Coppy of the Will to you with a request that you will give me your candid opinion of the situation I am left in and whether you think it will be advisable for me to renounce or abide by the Will. let me solicit you My dear Madam to act by me as you would by a Child of your own you are the first person I have applied to for advice and let me not be disapointed in gaining the opinion of one whose understanding and judgement I so  highly value—I regret it is not in my power My dear Mrs: Adams to send you an Inventory of the property left by my dear Husband I have understood on a rough calculation it is estimated at about fifty Thousand Dollars which is a great part invested in different kinds of Stock the only objection I have as it regards my own provision is being left so entirely dependant on the Children as without a liberal support from the Orphans Court I should find it impossible to support them in the manner they have been accustomed to Mr Cook the Gentleman who is left Executor was first Cousin to Mr Hellen and myself there is no person that he could have selected here more agreable to me as his administrator he is I firmly believe a Man of sincere worth and integrity.I shall esteem it a favor if you will commit this Letter to the flames immediately on answering it and return me the Coppy of the Will I enclose impart to no one the subject I have written on My dear Madam though I know every person may gratify their curiosity in seeing the Will still as I have heard him censured for having left me so slender a provision I wish to bury the subject in oblivion as speedily as possible as I never wish to hear one word of Censure attached to the memory of one I feel so sincerely an Affection for.I fear My dear Madam I have transgressed both on your  patience but on this occasion I trust you will pardon  you to answer me as speedily as possible and to accept my Sister Buchanan’s and my best wishes for yourself and Family with Compliments to all I offer you the assurance of my respect and Affection—

					Adelaide Hellen

					I send you just the substance of the Will My dear Madam


Title: From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 2 December 1815
From: Adams, Abigail Smith
To: Adams, John Quincy

					My dear Son
					Quincy December 2d 1815

				This Letter will derive some merit from its being the latest date, and I hope will reach you soon. it comes to inform you that mr Tarbel has Letters for you—your Father has given you his opinion respecting the publication of the extract of his Letter to dr price by mr Morgan. I send you the copy from the original and am ready to ask mr Morgan, in the words of the play. “who was the dupe? with respect to George, I think with you if you go to London; You will find it necesary to place him where he can receive the systematic instruction of a School”Our Fisheries have been more productive this year, than they ever were before; most plentifull fares made, and I have not heard of any molestation of any of them, except one or two Smuglers.our university at Cambridge is growing very rich, the donations to it, the last year, are said to amount to more than and hundred thousand dollars—20 thousand for the Greek professorship 20 thousand given by mr parkman, Count Mumford Donation, and mr Abial Smiths 25 thousand, make a handsome sum.You will mourn with Dr Waterhouse in the loss he has sustaind, by the death of mrs Waterhouse. She had been in a decline, a consumption for more than a year. She was a very valuable woman, and has left an amiable Family—Mr Hall sent your Letter to him, to your Father to read. I find by your observations and remarks in it, that you See most of our Newspapers, and pamphlets—and you have not spaired the wise Men of the East, who are pretty well ashamed I should think of their conduct, the peace came at a fortunate moment, to save them from further disgrace. and perhaps the Nation from civil war. Boston most assuredly would have been laid in ashes. God be praised that it did not come to such an extremityI think mr Munroe will be our next president, who will be vice P. is more problematical—We are in our usual health, but four score years, are not to be relied upon, more than three score and ten. the depredations of time are daily visible, and not less more seen than felt.With gratitude I would acknowledge the Blessings which remain, both of hearing and Seeing. I pray that I may never be a cumberor of the Ground.While I live in possesion of my faculties my heart will beat, with Love and affection / for you and yours,

					A Adams

					My Love to mrs Adams, mrs Tarbel has Letters for her.


Title: From John Quincy Adams to Abigail Smith Adams, 5 December 1815
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Adams, Abigail Smith

					My Dear Mother
					Ealing near London 5th. Decbr. 1815.

				The only Letters that I have had the pleasure of receiving from you since I wrote you last are those of the 6th. and 12th. of October both of which came by the Galen. The latest preceding one was dated on the 30th. of August so that I am still waiting for your Septbr. Letters. Although I have not yet entirely recovered the use of my eyes and must still write you by the hand of my Wife I have nevertheless perused Mr. Channings remarks on Dr. Worcester’s second Letter to him. There is at least this advantage attending upon the evils of Controversy, that it sharpens the weapons of the combatants, and improves their skill. The third Pamphlet of Mr. Channing appears to me much superior to any thing that I have read of his before; and although I think that both his logic and his learning upon the subject in discussion are yet susceptible of great improvement yet I am inclined to believe that the continuance of the contest would be the most effectual means of raising him as far above his present publication as this surpasses his Letter to Mr. Thatcher. The charge brought forward in the review of American Unitarianism against the Clergymen stiling themselves liberal in Boston and its vicinity was not simply of deviating from the doctrine of the Trinity, but of witholding and in some degree of dissembling their real opinions upon the subject. Against this charge Mr. Channing was in his first publication indignant perhaps to except that there was some foundation for it, is not only proved by the indisputable testimony produced in the Panoplist, but has long been well known personally to me. Mr. Channing very forcibly and somewhat angryly disclaims the Unitarianism of Mr. Bilsham and Dr. Priestley. This I leave no doubt he could very honestly do for himself; but certain it is that this very Unitarianism had infected others more than they were ever willing to avow, and more than I believe compatible with any system of real Christianity. That the Athanasian Trinity is clearly contained in the Scriptures I have not been able to convince my own mind beyond a question. But if I must chuse between that and the belief that Christ was a mere man, to be compared with Socrates, and must mutilate the new Testament to suit the critical scruples of Dr. Priestley in order to maintain this creed, I have no hesitation in making my choice. I find in the new Testament Jesus Christ accosted in his own presence by one of his disciples as God, without disclaiming the appellation I see him explicitly declared by at least two other of the Apostles to be God expressly and repeatedly announced not only as having existed before the worlds but as the Creator of the worlds; without beginning of days, or end of years; I see him named in the great prophecy of Isaiah concerning him the mighty God, and I cannot be entirely satisfied to be told that one of these expressions is merely a figure that another may be an interpolation and a third is perhaps not correctly translated; nor yet as I am told by Mr. Channing that solitary text, collected here and there, may be found in the Bible to support any doctrine whatsoever. The texts are too numerous, they are from parts of the Scripture too diversified, they are sometimes connected by too strong a claim of argument, and the inferences from them are to my mind too direct and irresistible to admit of the explanations which the Unitarians some times attempt to give them, or of the evasions by which at others they endeavour to escape from them. It is true, the Scriptures do not use the term Persons, where they countenance the Doctrine of the Trinity, and perhaps it may be difficult, perhaps impossible to give a definition of the term person which shall solve the mystery, or save to human reason the apparent inconsistency of an identity in three and one. But can the Unitarian give a more intelligible definition of the term one, as applied to the Deity? Is his God infinite? Is he Omnipresent? Is he Eternal? And if so, what precise idea can he form of unity, without bounds or dimensions? For my part the term one, necessarily implies to me the idea of limits or bounds, within which that one is included, and beyond which it is not. How then can number be applicable to the idea of God, any more than time or space? It is therefore as difficult for me to conceive that God should be one, as that he should be three, or three in one. How it can be, I know not; but in either Hypothesis the idea of God is to me equally incomprehensible. The question therefore is not whether the Doctrine of the Trinity be in comprehensible, but whether it be contained in the Scriptures. you say that you are an Unitarian according to the creed of Dr. Clarke, and Mr. Channing intimates the same of himself, and of our liberal Christians in general: now, although I have read the Bible, I have not read Dr. Clarke, and therefore will take the substance of his Creed as stated by Mr. Channing. He says that “Doctor Clarke believed that the Father alone is the Supreme God and that Jesus Christ is not the supreme God but derived his being and all his power and honours from the father, even from an act of the father’s power and will. He maintains that, as the Scriptures have not taught as the manner in which the Son derived his existence, from his father, it is presumptuous to affirm that the Son was Created or that there was a time when he did not exist.” How this creed contains as complete an inconsistency as Trinity in unity. how could Jesus Christ derive his being from the father without being created? and if he existed before all time how could he derive his being at all? According to this Creed, Jesus Christ might exist before he had his being, and Dr. Clarke escapes from the Trinity, only to plunge himself into a contradiction in terms equally unintelligible.	I hope that if this controversy is to be continued the discussion will turn more upon the Doctrine and run less into personalities. Mr. Channing’s great fear seems to be, that the craft is in danger; that the reputation of the liberal Clergymen will be impaired, and even that they may perhaps be driven from their Pulpits. There is on the Trinitarian side of this contest rather too much accrimony, but in the preposition of a separation of Communion between the adherents to the two Creeds, I do not perceive the danger to our Religious liberties, which Mr. Channing and the Layman so vehemently dread, nor the advancement of the views of the Church philosphie which my father intimates in his Letter to Dr. Morse. I am rather inclined to expect that our liberal Clergymen, as they chuse to stile themselves, will find it necessary to be more explicit in the full avowal of their opinions, and for that purpose to be better prepared to give a reason for the faith that is in them. That above all they will universally shake off the Unitarianism of Socinus and Priestley and settle their belief concerning the Person and character of Jesus Christ on a firmer and more solid basis than the clod of human mortality.I trust that neither you or my father will think that I am presuming to offer to you any thing new in support of Athanasianism. My own opinions on this subject have resulted solely from the impression of the Scriptures upon my own mind: the very little of controversy that I have read relating to it, has rather tended to confirm them to weaken that impression. In the management of this controversy I have not had occasion to admire the christian temper of the opponents on either side: if the Trinitarians have always abused of their strength, their adversaries have always have always been too ready to resort to the artifices of weakness. You will see in the memoirs of the life of Dr. Price that that worthy man was offended with the affectation with which Dr. Priestly and this Sectaries arrogated to themselves exclusively the appellations of Unitarians. There is certainly something disingenuous in it, in as much as it implies that the Trinitarians are not Unitarians and insinuates that they believe a plurality of Gods. There is something of a similar spirit in the epithet of liberal Clergymen which our Antitrinitarians appear disposed to appropriate to themselves. The same misuse of the term  orthodoxy must perhaps be charged upon their antagonists.	Why is it not possible that Dr. Morse and Dr. Worcester Mr Channing and Dr. Kirkland the Layman and Dr. Freeman should hold a conversation together in which the nature of the Diety and of the person and character of Jesus Christ should be discussed with as much calmness and good humour as the storic, the Academic, and the Epicurean, converse upon the nature of the Gods in Cicero?But enough of Theological disputes. Our political dispentions if they are as angry and violent in words as were those of Cicero’s time they are thank Heaven, not so sanguinary.  It gives me great pleasure to observe that the spirt of party which during the War had become so virulent and dangerous has already in so great a degree subsided. In the general character of the elections throughout the Country since the Peace, there appears to have been little material change, but as the objects of contention which threatened the very existence of the Union have passed away I flatter myself that the spirit of party however it may continue to feel the necessity of lashing itself into fury, will at least have no attainable objects that can be materially detrimental to our Country.	There is nothing in the present affairs or politics of Europe that can excite much interest or gratify curiosity. We are all in tolerable health and our three Boys are at School: the two youngest, waiting with no small impatience for the Vacation of six weeks which is to commence a few days before Christmas.I pray to be remembered affectionately to all friends and remain ever dutifully yours.

					John Quincy Adams.

					P. S. The writer likewise offers her duty.


Title: From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 8 December 1815
From: Adams, Abigail Smith
To: Welsh, Harriet

					Dear Harriet

				I have lost my dear venerable second Father and ancient Friend, the upright Christian, the noblest work of God, an honest Man—I heard he was unwell on wednesday the P and I went to visit him. he was in his parlour appeard to have a voilent cold, raised freely, but I observed spoke very faintly; and appeard to me at the time, like a Lamp just expiring. I left him, dubious whether I should ever see him again. but mrs Tufts said he was better than he had been for several Days and did not appear to me to think him dangerous. he was better last Evening went to Bed and Slept till midnight, when he waked in great distress, and at two oclock expired—the funeral will be on monday if your Father and Mother came up they will lodge with us—Mr Adams will not be in Town next week Taunton Court comes to take him of, the articles you sent there, are still there. if you could get them tomorrow and send them by mr C Adams, I should be glad of themI inclose a Letter which you may show to your Father and Brothers, as I have taken it without leave, return it tomorrow. in the National paper are some Letters from Goveneur  Cass to a mr Johnson British Agent amongst the Indians, which show that mr A is right in his judgment and opinions—I received the articles sent by Stage Yours affecly

					A A


Title: From John Adams to John Adams, 14 December 1815
From: Adams, John
To: Adams, John

My dear Child
Quincy Decr. 14. 1815

Your classical letter of the 4th. of Octr, does you honour, upon every Supposition that I can make.
If you have composed it yourself, it is highly honourable to the Skill and care of your Preceptors and to your own Application to your Studies; All of which must have concurred in producing Such a proficiency in so Short a time.
If, by your dutiful and submissive behaviour to your Masters you have recommended yourself to any one of them So far as to induce him to condescend to assist you; this is much in praise of your Conduct and ought to bind you in constant gratitude to him and greater Assiduity in Studies.
If by your respectful Civilities to your Superiours in Age and Class you have engaged any one of them to help you; this is much to the credit of your manners and ought Stimulate you to greater exertions to make yourself agreable to all about you.
You ask indulgence for faults. But I perceive but two: One in the Word “esima,” the other is but a mistake of a Single Letter, an e for an a, in multiferiis for multfariis.
My dear Boy! You have not yet informed me of many particulars which I have a curiosity to know. You have not informed me whether the Schollars all Live together or seperately. Do you breakfast dine Sup or Sleep together. What Exercises and Airings are allowed you?Are you allowed to take long Walks or Short Rides? to play football or Crickett? to run leap, climb, Swim Scate? Or is dancing or fencing your principal Amusement? You have not told me what Church you attend on Sundays nor what Preachers you hear.
My dear John! I cannot conclude this Letter, without the melancholly Information that my most ancient and most esteemed Friend, your venerable Head of the Hingham Institution is gone to Heaven and left me almost alone in the World. I have the pleasure, however, to See Generation after generation rising, who promise to fill all the Vacancies with honour and Dignity. Let me enjoin it upon you to fulfill your part in your turn, according to the great Advantages you possess. Always remember that you was not made for yourself alone.
The Bombarda matutina will be within my hearing all Winter; for The Independence, the Washington, the Constitution and Congress are all in Harbour. And your Letters will be answered by Candlelight by your affectionate Grandfather
John Adams


Title: From John Quincy Adams to John Adams Smith, 14 December 1815
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Smith, John Adams

Dear Sir,
Boston House 14. December 1815 Thursday 7. A.M.

The three Letters enclosed are to be copied into the book immediately after your Commission. This letter also, and all those I shall write to you hereafter, are to be copied into the same book. The letter to the Secretary of State is to be forwarded with the packet of Newspapers which I left at the office on tuesday. Mr Grubb will inform you of the manner.
The Letter for Mr. Maury may be forwarded to him by the Post, this Evening. That for Mr Russell, is to be sealed only with a wafer and forwarded under the cover which must be sealed up as now directed by the foreign Post tomorrow. Mr Grubb knows where to send it—And please to observe that the postage must be paid upon all letters going to any part of the Continent of Europe when they are put into the Post Office. Mr Grubb will give you the book where the minutes of postage paid are kept.
yours sincerely
J. Q. A.


Title: From John Adams to George Washington Adams, 15 December 1815
From: Adams, John
To: Adams, George Washington

My dear George,
Quincy Decemr 15. 1815

I am afraid you will be offended at my freedom; but you are, in your hand writing, at Such an immense distance behind your two Brothers that I cannot abstain from urging you to force your Attention to that elegant usefull and indispensible Accomplishment.
In order to diminish that ardor and abate that hurry which will inevitably force you into a Slovenly habit; accustom yourself to a critical attention to Punctuation, which is a branch of musical science. You will hereafter be convinced that your time is well Spent in learning to Sett your Commas, Semicolons, Colons and points “exactly right”: though a Witty Satyrist has estimated such Skill only at a “Mite.”
You have read Marshall. Well. But you must not believe him any farther, than you find original Documents to Support him. You must appeal to original Authorities, Your Country is preparing for you the Means. The Mass. Historical Society have published Many Volumes, And have lately printed a famous Manuscript, Supposed to have been lost, Mr Hobarts History. Judge Davis has long been employed in preparing a new Edition of Moretons Memorial with Notes and Dissertations, which is now printing, A new Antiquarian Society is incorporated in Massachusetts. This you must not forget. A new Historical Society is erected in New York a Catalogue of whose Library you ought to procure. You must read Mathers Magnalia, Princes Chronology parts 1st. and 2d. Neals History of New England, Hutchinsons History of Massachusetts and Minots Continuation, Even Sullivans, Maine.Stith and Smith of Virginia; Colden and Smith of New York. William Penns Works of Pensilvania, and Mr Locks Constitution for South Carolina. You must Read Johnson of Woburn, Woods State and even Moretons Mount Wollaston; or new Canaan.
Your Country, George is advancing with a rapidity of which you have no Conception. It will leave you, far behind it, if you remain long abroad. Pray your Father to Send you home, within a Year or two at most to enter Harvard Colledge.
When Your Gradfather, in 1788, took Leave of King George the Third, his Majesty was very gracious and condescending, He Seemed disposed to converse with me longer than I wished. He asked me many Questions concerning my own Family. “How many Children I had? And he made an Observation, that Surprised me, because it convinced me that he knew more about me than I suspected. “You have Sent your sons back to America” “Why did you do that”? Because, Sir, I have long been of Opinion that every man ought to be educated in his native Country. “Why! What! What! What! What is your reason for that Opinion?” All this was pronounced with perfect good humour. My Answer was, An Education in a foreign Country is apt to form Opinions, manners and habits, which will make a Man disagreable to his own Countrymen, and the Institutions manners, opinions and manners of his Country upon his return to it disagreable to him.
Here I was guilty of an Inadvertence to Ettiquette. I knew though I did not then recollect, that his Majesty had two Sons at the University of Goetingen. The good natured King, however took no notice of my blunder, and dismissed me, as graciously as he at first received me.
George! I have Seen enough to make me pitty Kings Emperors and Presidents. Which would rather be, at this hour? George the third, or Napoleon at St. Helena?
Rap me Some God! Oh quicly bear me hence to wholesome Solitude, the Nurse of Sence.
“Where Contemplation prunes her ruffled Wings
And the free Soul looks down to pitty Kings.”
Beseech your Father, George to Send you back to Boston within a year or two, at least as Soon as you have Greek and Latin enough to enter Harvard Colledge, where I hope you take your degrees. And where, I hope you will Sett up no pretensions, assume no Airs, and betray no conciousness of the Superiour Advantages you have enjoyed.
Among the many Errors of your Country, arising from Negligence and inattention, there is not one more conspicuous, than their Ignoranc and inconsideration of their own maritime Resources and means of a Naval Defence. Do you,  George give a particular Attention to this Subject and its history from 1775 to 1815; not entirely forgetting a Letter to Dr Nathan Webb written from Worcester, twenty years before, vizt in 1755 by your Grandfather
John Adams.


Title: To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, 16 December 1815
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Adams, John

					My Dear Sir,
					Boston House Ealing 16 Decr. 1815.

				Mr. J. A. Smith, Secretary to the Legation of the United States at the Court of Great Britain, arrived here last week and delivered to me your favour of 22d Octr: I sincerely wish that he may find his new situation as agreeable and as profitable to himself as he anticipated.The construction which the British Court put upon the Treaties, as they relate to the Fisheries will be well known to the Government of the United States before you will receive this Letter. They hold, that by the Laws of Nations, War dissolves all obligations of previous Treaties between the parties, without exception; although they admit that Treaties may and often do contain stipulations, irrevocable in their nature, and therefore not to be affected by a subsequent War. The acknowledgement of the independence of the United States contained in the Treaties of 1782 and 1783 they consider as one of these irrevocable conceptions; but the liberties connected with the Fisheries within the British Jurisdiction, stipulated in the same Treaties, in favour of the People of the United States; they view as grants temporary and experimental, entirely cancelled by the War which has intervened between the two Countries, and no longer to be conceded without an equivalent, or at least without modifications under which they profess in general terms to be willing to negotiate for their renewal. I have seen an able and elaborate argument leading to the same conclusion, in an American Newspaper, the author of which, professing to be an American, considers, and labours with no small subtlety and a great display of Black Letter lore, to prove that these liberties are irretrievably extinguished and lost to us forever. His reasoning, like that of many of our Lawyers, who apply their Country Court logic to the controversies of Nations, is founded almost entirely upon the principles of British Common Law and the decisions of cases reported from the Courts in Westminster Hall. The main hinge of his argument is that we have fortified the right in consequences of our having been ousted of the possession of this incorporeal hereditament, during the War. I must do the British Government the justice to say that in their view of the subject they have resorted to no such pretence as this: their ground is that the Article in the Treaty was abrogated by the mere fact of the War, and if it is in justice not a whit more tenable than that of their Gentry advocate, it is at least more suitable to their characters as statesmen ruling the Councils of an Empire. But this subject must ultimately be settled either by Negotiation, or by force. I have already told you that the maintenance or the recovery of these liberties will depend upon ourselves alone: if we are content to abandon the right, it will certainly be taken from us. If we are firm and inflexible in the assertion of it, we may yet secure it perhaps without the resort to the ultima ratio. From the temper which prevailed in New England during the late War & for several years preceding it, and which now seems to prevail even in relation to this question, I am strongly apprehensive that it will be a right to be recovered rather than a right uninterruptedly maintained. New England has yet no consciousness of rights, when they are contested by Great Britain.I have not been informed when Louis the desired is to be consecrated with the miraculous oil from the Sainte Ampoule. But in the mean time he is making processions in honour of the Holy Virgin to the Church of Notre Dame; and his Nephew the pious Duke of Angouleme is walking barefoot with the Monks and instigating the butchery of Protestants, in the South of France. Such authority is assuredly not derived from a Pilgrim; it is much to be regretted that in the decay of the Monastic orders, the practice of turning les Rois fainéans into Monks, has gone out of fashion. The house of Bourbon would of itself people a Convent, and be placed in a condition much more suitable to their characters and capacities than upon the thrones to which they have been nailed by the Royal Hammersmiths of Social order and Religion. They have been fixing the fate of Europe again by Treaties of Peace in the name of the holy and undivided Trinity. They have stripped and robbed and plundered France, ad libitum for about half a year, as they had already done once before, and as she had been doing for a number of years to most of them. In return for the sacrifice of every thing that could give strength, credit or dignity to the Nation, they have bound themselves to keep the nation under the blessed yoke of the Bourbons, as fixed and immovable as 150000 bayonets at the throats of the french people and a Million more within whistling distance, can keep them. This arrangement may last six months but I think not three years. Government whether founded upon the will of the people or upon the will of god never yet had a durable foundation upon the basis of a foreign and hostile Soldiery.To call the puppet show now displayed at Paris a legitimate Government is an insult upon human speech and an outrage upon the Laws of God. It cannot last! France must be conquered again. France must be dismembered and scattered to the wind of heaven...or else...Sampson is bound...His eyes are extinguished...His locks are shorn...but the day may come, when his returning vigour will yet shake the Pillars of the Temple of Dugan, and if he perish in its fall will bury with him all the Lords of the Philistines the worshipers of the senseless Idol, in the ruins.You assure me that I have neither profits nor laurels to expect, and in sooth my profits here are  of the negative kind, but the Garden of Boston House is bordered round with laurels, and I hope my Boys will yet give you proof that Classicks and Mathematics as well as a deportment, are assiduously taught at Ealing School. They are now coming home to a vacation for six weeks and I am happy to assure you that the Yankey Boys have done no dishonour to the reputation of their Country.I have got Mr Abraham Tuckers seven Volumes of the Light of Nature ready to send you by the first opportunity from London, and I hope they will not make you blind as they have almost made me. I can get Brucker if you think him worth nine Guineas; but for my part I think that all the philosophy worth having is to be obtained at a cheaper rate. The philosophy that will never spend a sigh for a laurel, or a wish for profits, beyond the old Boston Town Clerk Cooper’s medium of bread and Turnips.I am dear Sir ever affectionately yours

					John Quincy Adams.

					P. S—17. Decr—Your favour of 3. Novr:—last Night received.


Title: From John Quincy Adams to John Adams Smith, 16 December 1815
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Smith, John Adams

Dear Sir,
Boston House Saturday morning 16. Decr 1815.

The enclosed letter to the Secretary of the Treasury is to be copied into the letter Book—After which it is to be sent together with a copy of the minutes of Stock refered to in it the original of which as received from the French Ambassador I send you herewith. I suppose however you will not be able to have the dispatch prepared before Monday when I propose to be in town. yours sincerely
J. Q. A.


Title: From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 19 December 1815
From: Adams, John
To: Adams, John Quincy

Quincy December 19th. 1815

Ah! Monsieur Adams! said my learned Friend The Abby De Mably “Je sent un grand decadence. J’avois l’habitude d’ecrire six, huit a dix heures, mais Maintenant, Je ne puis pas travaillier que deux. Apres cela il faut que Je me jette sur le lit.” The Abby was then but seventy. As I am ten years older I may now say the same thing and with less regret The Death of my most ancient venerable and most beloved Friend Dr Tufts whose funeral We attended on Monday, as it will increase my difficulty in Writing, ought to diminish my reluctance to confess it.
The loss of this prop of my advanced age has deeply affected me. I never knew a better Man. Mr Norton gave a faithful Portrait of him to a crowded and simpathizing Audience. But I must waive this Subject.
Nine Guineas is too great a Price for me to give for a Work of which I shall probably never read twenty pages and will never be opened by any of mine unless you should hereafter Study the History of the Platonician, the Pythagorician and the Sanscrit Trinity.
Your Benevolence is willing to believe, that some honest heretical Sectarians may be Saved. Mine also is content that The Professor at Franaker Should escape punishment if he was honest and Sincere, when he taught his Pupils that the Doctrine of the Trinity was not a matter Point of Faith, but of Demonstration. Have you never observed that Monument of Taste and Solidity, The Gallows before our City? Three Stone Pillars equal in size and length, nicely combined together, by three Iron Barrs, so that no human Eye can discover where the Barrs begin or end; all three possessed of the same capacities and properties: all three adapted to the same purposes; And yet they are not three Gallowses, but One Gallows. If you hang a Criminal upon either of the perpendicular Pillars or upon the horizontal Pillar, he is hanged upon the Gallows; and yet they are not three Gallowses but One Gallows. They are distinct and yet they are one.
“A tali dogmatizandi furore libera nos, Domine.”!
This however is better is better than the Athanasian Creed, because it does not curse and damn, so impiously and blasphemously, as that execrable Formula.
The Fathers of the three first Centuries were as tolerant and as Charitable as you are. Justin Martyr was as Catholick at least as I am. After having said, that the Philosophers, who had preserved good Morals, had been saved before Jesus Christ, and although Atheists, ought to be regarded as Christians: he adds, that those who live after the coming of Christ, are equally Christians, and ought to have no fears or Apprehensions concerning their future State. If you doubt my interpretation here are the Words of this Saint and Martyr of the first Century.
Καὶ οἱ μετὰ λόγου βιώσαντες Χριστιανοι εἰσὶ, καν ἄθεοι ἐνομίσθησαν. Et quicunque, cum ratione vixere, Christiani Sunt, quamvis Athei, et nullius Numinis cultores habiti Sunt. This is the first proposition of St. Justin. The Second is equally clear.
Οἱ δὲ μετὰ λόγου βιώσαντες, καὶ βιοῦντες, Χριστιανοὶ, καὶ ἄφοβοι, καὶ ἀτάραχοι ὑπαρχουσι. At, qui cum ratione vixerunt, atque etiam nunc vivunt, Christiani, et extra metum et perturbationem, omnes sunt. Just. Martyr. Apolog. 2. p. 83.
This Authority and many others ought to have been considered by Calvin before he burned Servetus and by the Romish Athanasians who burn honest Men for eating a Sparerib or a Beef Stake on a Fryday or who express a doubt of the Miraculous Transportation of the Church of the Virgin Mary from Jerusalem to Loretto.
Mr Madison has opened the 14th Congress with a Message, I will not Say Such as I should have written, because I never could write so well, but such as I would have dictated to him if he had called me to his Counsel and asked my advice. I should however have added one Paragraph which he has unfortunately omitted. I would if I could have inserted in Language as nervous as he, or you could produce A Recommendation of and an Institution and Establishment of a Naval Accademy in which young Gentlemen should be taught every Science subservient to Maritime purposes. Every branch of Mathematicks Natural Philosophy Geography Astronomy, Gunnery Fortification and Naval Architecture. And two or three Such Accademies would be more satisfactory to me than One.
Congress will have much to do. As the Inundation of Bank Bills has overflowed all the mountains, I hope that Measures will be taken to make the Waters subside; and that every Bank will be compelled to keep Gold and Silver in its Vaults Sufficient to redeem every Bill upon demand. Untill this is done there can be little Justice in any dealings in this Country.
My dear Son! If I could converse with you tête a tête, I would throw off all restraint. But as We are situated, I can only suggest a few Hints. And even these, perhaps too hardy. I am your faithful Friend / and affectionate
A.


Title: From Washington Allston to John Quincy Adams, 22 December 1815
From: Allston, Washington
To: Adams, John Quincy,Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson

				22d Decbr: 1815. 8 Buckingham Place. Fitzroy Square.
				Mr Allston presents his compliments to Mr & Mrs Adams—he will do himself the honour to wait on them agreeably to thier invitation


Title: From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to Abigail Smith Adams, 23 December 1815
From: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson
To: Adams, Abigail Smith

					My dear Mother
					Boston House Ealing 23d Decbr 1815.

				I have been so occupied in writing for Mr. Adams ever since his indisposition that I have really not had time to answer your kind Letters and have brought myself in debt to all my Correspondents and they accumulate so much that I am unable to satisfy their demands. My Boys are also at home which is another ample source of occupation as Mr. Adams’s time is of too much importance to the public to admit of his attending them himself and the Vacation is so long it will not do to suffer them to lose so much time.You mention in your Letter the receipt of the Watches and they are so extremely anxious to have theirs should you find a good opportunity I will thank you to send them.Mr. Adams has written you a long Letter to day which I have assisted and I think as long as I am occupied in this way you must cease to expect any Letters from me and consider his as from us both. I have just heard of the death of Mr Hellen which occasioned me no surprize as it had so long anticipated. I am not yet perfectly acquainted with the manner he has left his Widow and family but understand he died worth 60 Thousand Dollars. With this Sum his Children will be handsomely provided for.As it is probable we shall return to America in the course of the Summer I will thank you to keep the things you mention until our return as by that time the Children will want a new Stock. I have found but few of my old friends in this Country and those few much changed but after so long an absence and under such circumstances I could not expect to find it otherwise.John is so very jocose while I write I find it impossible to write you any more must therefore request you will offer my duty to my father and present me  affectionately to all the family and be assured of the tenderest affection of your daughter

					L C Adams


Title: From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 24 December 1815
From: Adams, Abigail Smith
To: Adams, John Quincy

					My Dear Son
					Quincy December 24 1815

				By mr. Tarbel, who left here the last of Nov’br I wrote to you, and to mrs Adams, introducing him to you, as the Grandson of our Ancient, and beloved Friend, dr. Tufts, who then enjoyed his faculties and was active in buisness—but upon the 8th of this month, closed a Life of virtuous usefullness. having finishd the works assignd him, he fell asleepe asleep—for his death was not preeceeded by any Sickness or allarming Symptoms. he was not confined to his Room, or Bed a Single day. hearing that he was unwell, your Father, and I went to visit him, as we had more frequently practised, for the year past. we found him in his parlour, Social and cheerfull, altho I perceived that he conversed with more difficulty than usual. he had taken a bad cold, and coughd much. when I took leave of him, he gave me a pressure of the hand, and an earnest expression in his countanance which Sunk deep to my heart, and I Said to your Father, He is going. altho I did not consider the event So near at hand, he Survived only one day.untill you arrive at old Age, you can not realize the Sensation caused, by the removal of a Friend, of many years growth,—so ripened by our Side, So endeard to us by every virtueThe death of Such a man, who through Life has sustaind, in every Relation, and character a pure and unspotted Reputation, and who filled every hour with Some active Service to his fellow creatures—causes a universal Shock, and Electric Strokewho of us would not wish thus to live, and thus to die? his death has imprest upon my mind, with increasing force, the little Time, which in the course of Nature, is alloted to your Parents, the Suddeness with which we may drop into the Grave, and it has determined me to write to you, and Say, that which ever of us may be first taken, the other will Survive but a Short period, and Should Such an event take place in your absence, the Survivour will need all your filial consolation, and Support. I therefore request you would immediatly return or as Soon as you could obtain permission, to your Native Country.your Fathers bodily health is much firmir than mine, yet he bends under the weight of years, and decays fast. my health is crumbling under frequent attacks of Sickness, and age. while my Reason is Sound; and my mind tranquil I have Some things to impart to you. you know that Louisa Smith, has been to me at all times, as a daughter, always faithfull to my interest, and constant and affectionate in her attendance in Sickness, as well as health that She is peculiarly Situated, not having a relative, or any kindred, nor Sister excepted, upon her Mothers Side. I am desirious of doing what I can for her if I Should be taken away. I have therefore retaind a Note of yours; part of which is already paid, and which your Brother would have paid the whole, but for my request to the contrary.There remains about twelve hundred dollars. this Note I shall inclose in a Letter addrest to you, and seald up, which I Shall give to her, for you, relying upon you, to discharge it agreable to my request. Dr Tufts has always been my Trustee. there was some property, left me, by my Fathers will, which dr Tufts who was Executor, after I went abroad converted into public Stock. the interest of this, and Some other Small Sums, which was purchased by him, I have found convenient for Family use, during the late war, when our income was much diminished—of this I have your Fathers consent to dispose of as I please—I Shall leave directions to you for this purpose—I have written you more than once requesting the price of the cloth Sent your Father & the knives and forks Sent me. the Seal and Books your Father has written you about. they will all be deducted from the Small remains of your Note to your Father, nearly the whole of which has been paid. The Boys have Sent for their watches—I have only waited for your, or their mothers direction to comply.I am my dear Son / most affectionatly your Mother

					Abigail Adams