John Adams was a Founding Father and the second president of the United States from 1797 to 1801. Before his presidency, he was a leader of the American Revolution that achieved independence from Great Britain. During the latter part of the Revolutionary War and in the early years of the new nation, he served the Continental Congress of the United States as a senior diplomat in Europe. Adams was the first vice president of the United States, serving from 1789 to 1797. He was a dedicated diarist and regularly corresponded with contemporaries, including his wife and advisor Abigail Adams and his friend and rival Thomas Jefferson.
Quincy April 8: 1815 Respected Sir I forgot in my last the most brilliant Topick, of all that splendid Phenomenon in the female World, of Genius Taste Learning Observation and…
Quincy April 8. 1815 My Dear Son. I inclose a Slip with an Essay in it, Signed Richlieu The Editor has poisoned it, with a Silly introduction; but that will…
Quincy April 10. 1815 Dear Sir It does not Signify, to grow old. You never can get rid of worldly Affairs. I never was more distracted with Business. It pours…
Quincy April 12th. 1815. Dear Sir As I am not able to be punctual as [Smith] , in the payment of my debts; I fear I owe you a Letter,…
Quincy April 13. 1815. Sir Having very cogent motives to collect Information relative to our New England Fisheries, a Friend has kindly referred me to you as you will see…
Quincy April. 15. 1815 Dear Sir I commit my Grandsons to the Guardianship of yourself and Mrs Perkins and pray you to hold them under your Wings till you can…
Quincy April 22 1815 Respected Sir I know not whether you have a Taste for Romances.? If you have, as I acknowledge I have, it is in my power to…
Quincy May 1. 1815 My dear Son We are at our Wits ends for News from you. We know not whether you are at Ghent, gone to Paris, returned to…
Quincy. May 3rd. 1815 Dear George and John I adress myself to both of you as equally dear to me and because the difficulty with which I write, will not…
Quincy May 6th 1815 Dear George and dear John I know not where your Father is, or I Should write directly to him. As Soon as you See him, pray…
Quincy June 4th. 15 Friend Spafford My Son is probably in England: but I have no Letter from him later than the 21. March, then at Paris in the Center…
Quincy June 4th. 1815 My dear Sir Mr Bray a Son in Law of Samuel Eliot Esquire, the putative Father of the Greek Professorship at H.C. will I hope have…
Quincy June 7th. 1815 Dear Sir, My Friend of forty Years, The Honourable William Eustice Esqr, will have the Honour to present you with this Letter. He was educated under…
Quincy June 7th. 15. My dear Sir Inclosed is a Letter from Judah Alden of Duxbury, a fifty fifth Cousin of yours, on the Fisheries. And another from Freeman Atwood.…
Quincy June 8th. 1815 My dear Sir I have requested a number of Friends, to Search and Seek for information concerning the Fisheries, and they have procured me many Letters…
Quincy June 9th 1815 Gentlemen Accept my thanks for Mr Whites Oration on the fourth of March, and be pleased to present them to your Constituents—At the same time I…
Quincy June 11. 1815 Dr Rush “Watchman! What of the Night?” To what hour of the Evening are We advanced? How many hours remain before day break? Have you a…
Quincy June 19. 1815 Dear sir Education, which you brought into View in one of your Letters; is a subject so vast, and the systems of Writers are, So various…
Quincy June 20. 1815 Dear Sir The fit of recollection came upon both of Us, so nearly at the same time that I may, Sometime or other, begin to think…
Quincy June 21. 1815 Mr Carey I thank you for your Letter of the 14th. and printed half Sheets inclosed. I am Sorry there has been So much cause for…
Quincy June 22d 15 Dr Sir Can you give me any Information, concerning A. G. Camus? Is he a Chateaubriand? Or a Marquis D’Argens? Does he mean to abolish Christianity?…
Quincy June 25th 1815 Mr Ballard, Your quotation from “An Irish publication” in your Saturday’s Paper, under your head of “free Trade” is ingenious and amusing. The Allegory of the…
Quincy August 23 1815 Dear Sir I might perhaps agee with Mr Grattan, that Mr Burke had read more of the Brittish Poets than even Dr Johnson, who wrote their…
Quincy Aug. 24. 15 Dear Sir If I am neither deceived by the little Information I have, or by my Wishes for its truth, I Should Say that France is…