October 10, 1812

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander Everett

Discusses their correspondence and Everett's international travel. Comments on Oxford and mentions Shakespeare. Discusses reading Clarke's travels, possibly referring to Edward Clarke's "Travels in various countries of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Part the first. Russia, Tartary, and Turkey." Also comments on other literary works. Discusses politics, Napoleon's invasion of Russia, and Russian defenses. Adams had been the U.S. minister to St. Petersburg since 1809. Everett had served as his private secretary from 1809 to 1811.

GLC00639.07

November 11, 1840

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Roger S. Baldwin

Former United States President Adams writes to Baldwin, a lawyer and abolitionist. He acknowledges the receipt of Baldwin's narrative of the Amistad case, to be tried before the Supreme Court. He writes "I consented with extreme reluctance at the urgent request of Mr. Lewis Tappan and Mr. Ellis Gray Loring, to appear before the Court as one of the Counsel for these unfortunate men. My reluctance was founded entirely and exclusively upon the consciousness of my own incompetence to do justice to their cause. In every other point of view there is in my estimation no higher object upon earth of…

GLC00582

May 20, 1844

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Barbara O'Sullivan Addicks

He thanks her for the copy she sent of her "pocket manual treating the Science of the French Language" ("An elementary practical book for learning to speak the French language, expressly adapted to the capacity of children. Tr. from the German of Doctor J.H.P. Seidenstuecker") and indicates he sent a copy, per her request, to the National Intelligencer. He apologizes for not responding promptly and explains why he cannot give her manual the scrutiny it deserves, citing the volume of letters he receives.

GLC00693.05

June 30, 1818

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Letter signed

Title: to William Rabun

Secretary of State Adams informs Governor of Georgia Rabun that President Monroe has directed that Captain Obediah Wright be prosecuted for the murder of Chehaw Indians. He discusses some details necessary to start the prosecution. The Chehaw were American allies during the first Seminole War. Docket indicates a reply was sent on July 29, 1818.

GLC00782.11.02

September 24, 1842

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George N. Briggs

John Quincy Adams declines an invitation to a Cattle Show and fair, citing age, and his inability to attend public functions, and previous engagements. He hopes to soon meet Briggs in Washington, D.C., "under better auspices than those which have overshadowed us since Captain Christopher Sly was installed at the white house," possibly referring to John Tyler. Briggs was a congressman from Massachusetts.

GLC00655.03

August 2, 1789

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nathaniel Freeman

Adams criticizes the unexpected marriage of a mutual friend. He mentions the female population in Newbury-Port and other personal matters. He discusses the intended judiciary system and comments that it will take many alterations and additions before it is perfect.

GLC00881

September 21, 1789

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Bridge

Adams chronicles a trip to New York to visit the first United States Congress. Adams describes his interactions with a man named Atkins and another named Mr. Mayer in Newport. He also describes various passengers on the ship he took to New York. In New York, Adams heard speakers in the House of Representatives discuss various topics. He comments on the lower than expected level of eloquence, expressing confidence that he and Bridge will be great statesmen. He notes that Gerry Jackson of Georgia and Aedanus Burke of South Carolina speak most, and Ames, Madison and Vinning speak best.…

GLC00958.05

September 11, 1794

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Bridge

Adams apologizes for delay in notifying Bridge that President Washington has appointed Adams minister to the Netherlands. Adams will not be able to attend to business Bridge had given him. Adams left much of his unfinished business to a former classmate at Harvard named Beale, and discusses some of his unfinished cases. He suggests a way to settle the debts that Adams and Bridge owed to each other. He mentions the case of Cowdin and Maynard that Adams was involved in. He bids Bridge farewell, reaffirms their friendship, requests continued correspondence, and urges him to join public life.

GLC00958.10

1786-1802

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Header Record

Title: [Collection of letters to Harvard classmate James Bridge. Decimalized.] [Decimalized .01-.13.02]

A collection of letters from young John Quincy Adams to his Harvard classmate James Bridge, originally assembled by Bridge in a letterbook. The Adams letters were removed by a previous owner from the book and have been decimalized. The remainder of the collection, letters from other Harvard classmates retained by Bridge, are decimalized under one number. [decimalized GLC00958.01-GLC00985.13.02]

GLC00958

November 17, 1787

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Bridge

Adams covers several topics in this long letter to his Harvard classmate shortly after their graduation. He attended the ordination of Henry Ware, his first roomate at Harvard. While there, he has saw a number of their fellow classmates and learned of their plans. He tells a story of how several classmates helped to pay the bills of two of their peers, allowing them to graduate. Adams discusses studying law in Theophilus Parson's office, and invites Bridge to join him in a few months when places become available (which Bridge did). He also briefly discusses law texts he is studying. Adams…

GLC00958.01

October 20, 1788

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Bridge

Adams writes to his friend and former Harvard classmate, Bridge, about his health, law studies, and longing to see his female friends. Adams also reports that Townsend, who also studied law with Theophilus Parsons, is spending the winter in South Carolina and asked Adams to help "Jo." with his studies. Adams might be away, and hopes Bridge can fill in for him.

GLC00958.02

January 25, 1789

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Bridge

Adams describes acting like a recluse, spending most of his time in study. He praises the fourth volume of Edward Gibbon's "The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire." Adams asks that if Bridge sees a mutual friend, Stacey, to ask him to return Adams' copy of a work by Henry St. John Bolingbroke. He also asks Bridge to retrieve Adams' copies of Saunderson's Algebra and four volumes of Busson's works in French.

GLC00958.03

September 11, 1789

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Bridge

Adams writes in detail about his journey from Boston to Newport via Providence. He describes his stage coach companions on the way to Providence, expressing a liking for an amiable eighteen year-old named Landman. He comments on Brown University. Adams then derides the music of some of the less genteel people he rode with by boat. Landman introduced Adams to a Mrs. Marchant and her daughters, of whom he was very fond, and spent the evening with, enjoying musical performances. Adams reports that he saw Bridge's friend, W. Amory. Adams will soon sail to New York.

GLC00958.04

June 20, 1790

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter

Title: to James Bridge

The first two pages of a longer letter, lacking signature. Writing a month after Bridge left Newburyport, Adams expresses sadness over their separation. Adams writes about a trip to Exeter, and a variety of social news. The letter ends as Adams begins to describe his work in court in Ipswich, Massachusetts.

GLC00958.06

August 10, 1791

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Bridge

Adams denies that his father had any part in writing the Publicola letters, which attacked Thomas Paine's "Rights of Man" as too radical. Adams does acknowledge that he is the author, claiming that idleness motivated his effort to "dabble in political speculation." The letter reveals Adams' knowledge of his father's abuse by enemies. Adams also expresses mixed feelings about participating in politics. Information about Adams' law practice and news about the lives of various mutual friends also appears.

GLC00958.07

September 8, 1793

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Bridge

Adams ends Bridge a pamphlet he wrote. Adams also asks Bridge to serve as attorney for the defendant in the case of Samuel Clark v. Tephamiah Newland. The case was brought over monies owed to Clark. Adams discusses the case at length, instructing Bridge on legal arguments to be employed and settlements to be offered. A letter Adams wrote two weeks later corrects the plaintiff's name, which was actually Ebenezer Clark (GLC00958.09).

GLC00958.08

September 22, 1793

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Bridge

Adams corrects errors made in a previous letter (GLC00958.08) regarding comments made on the case of Clark v. Newland, for which Adams requested Bridge serve as the defendant's attorney. The plaintiffs name was actually Ebenezer Clark, not Samuel Clark. Also the justice hearing the case was in New Castle, not Woolwich. He tells Bridge that the defendant, Tephamiah Newland, died on September 12, 1793, and asks what amount Bridge was owed in legal fees. He comments on the "pestilential fever" raging in Philadelphia. Mentions that Bridges father owes Adams money from the Jones v. Hall case, and…

GLC00958.09

June 23, 1802

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Bridge

Adams wishes to become reacquainted with his old friend from Harvard. Adams provides an outline of his history abroad since he last wrote Bridge in September 1794. He discusses travel to Holland, England, and Prussia, while serving the Unites States government. He mentions his marriage to Louisa Johnson and the birth of their son, George Washington Adams. Adams returned to the United States in 1801 and desired to return to private life and law practice, but was elected to the Massachusetts state senate. He comments on the establishment of the Wiscasset Bank, expressing his disagreement with…

GLC00958.11

22 October 1786, 21 November 1788

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Bridge

Invitation to visit him. Marked at top: "Copy of letter in the possession of Miss H. North, N. Y." (19th C. copy).

GLC00958.12

January 20, 1821

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Letter signed

Title: to Aaron Hobart

Encloses "a copy of the Journal of the Federal Convention," in accord with a congressional resolution issued on 19 January 1820. Written from the Department of State.

GLC06313.04.099

February 26, 1829

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Book

Title: Message from the President of the United States, transmitting in compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives of 13th January, 1825.

"A statement of convictions, executions, and pardons, under the authority of the Government of the United States, since the adoption of the Constitution. February 26, 1829. Read, and laid upon the table." Printed as House Document no. 146, 20th Congress, 2d Session.

GLC02821

31 May 1880

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Weeks

Confirms that Weeks contracted the measles while in service. Asks that Weeks send him any papers requiring his signature.

GLC06728.099

February 21, 1882

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Weeks

Writes that he has forgotten exactly what Weeks' disability was but thinks it was loss of speech due to measles. Asks that Weeks fill out the affidavit with the details of his illness

GLC06728.101

1815

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Pamphlet

Title: Message From the President of the United States Transmitting the treaty of Peace and Amity Between the United States and His Britanic Majesty

JB00157

1839

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Book

Title: The Jubilee of the Constitution a Discourse.

JB00318