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

June 15, 1841

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Aspinwall

Introduces George Bishop to Aspinwall, United States Consul to London. Recommends Bishop, claiming that he "has invented a mode of making cloth without spinning and weaving." Informs Aspinwall that while in London, Bishop will attempt to gain a patent for his invention. "Mr. George G. Bishop, a gentleman who has invented a mode of making cloth without spinning and weaving and recommended to me by several friends of highly respectable character, is going to London with a view to obtain a patent for his invention, and I beg leave to commend him to any kind of service which it may at your…

GLC01123

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

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. Suggests a way to settle the debts that Adams and Bridge owed to each other. Mentions the case of Cowdin and Maynard that Adams was involved in. Bids Bridge farewell, reaffirms their frindship, requests continued correspondence, and urges him to join public life.

GLC00958.10

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. Discusses travel to Holland, England, and Prussia, while serving the Unites States government. 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. Comments on the establishment of the Wiscasset Bank, expressing his disagreement with the…

GLC00958.11

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

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 Parson, 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

Sends 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

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. Tells Bridge that the defendant, Tephamiah Newland, died on September 12, 1793, and asks what amount Bridge was owed in legal fees. Comments on the "pestilential fever" raging in Philadelphia. Mentions that Bridges father owes Adams money from the Jones v. Hall case, and adds a…

GLC00958.09

22 October 1786, 21 November 1788

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Header Record

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

1835

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Book signed

Title: Oration on the Life and Character of Gilbert Motier De Lafayette

Title page continues: "Delivered at the request of both Houses of the Congress of the United States, before them, in the House of Representatives at Washington, on the 31st December, 1834." Published by Gales and Seaton. Signed by Adams and inscribed to Gayton P. Osgood. Cover is contemporary ribbed red morocco.

GLC01238

September 4, 1838

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph Gales, Jr.

Previously received one hundred copies of a pamphlet, sent by a Mr. Franklin. Only recently had time to revise it, and transmits his corrections. Notes that he will free frank the pamphlets, saving Mr. Franklin the trouble. The Executive Committee of the American Anti-Slavery Society at New York recently asked for permission to print an edition of a speech Adams gave the previous summer. Adams notes that since there is no copyright, "it may be reprinted by any one who may think it worth his while."

GLC01194

1825

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: [Album autographed by John Quincy Adams and Marquis de Lafayette].

A note by Lafayette dated January 23, 1825 indicates he was an "old friend" of the parents of the young lady who owned this album. Adams writes a seven-line poem dated March 10, 1825. A note from William White dated March 23, 1825 quotes Proverbs. Three other notes, New Haven, Buffalo and New York, 1865 news clipping on Palmerston death, one small broadside concerning $1 contribution to the Washington Monument and piece of embroidery. Bound by P. Thompson, Washington City, in red ribbed morocco binding with gilt decorative board.

GLC01826

6 May 1824

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John McLean

Secretary of State Adams writes to McLean, Commissioner of the General Land Office, about the government responsibility for internal improvements. In response to McLean's request, he encloses a copy of an 1807 resolution he put before the senate on the topic (written on p. 3 in a secretarial hand) and indicates it can be "found in the Octavo Edition of the Journals of the Senate recently published Vol. 4, p. 155." Describes it as "the first Resolution ever offered in Congress, contemplating a general system of internal improvement." Discusses the congressional vote on it and the…

GLC01727

1824/06/30

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Letter signed

Title: to Oliver Wolcott Jr. re: distributing Stone facsimile of the Declaration

Partly printed circular letter signed as Secretary of State written to the Governor of Connecticut, with printed resolution on page 3 directing distribution of copies of the (W. J. Stone) facsimile of the Declaration, and other documents. A note at bottom of page 1 reads: "Two of these are for the Colleges of the State." The circular is accompanied by a separate small folio sheet printing of the resolution.

GLC01728

1 February 1815

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Levett Harris

Thanks Harris, the United States Charge d'Affaires in Russia, for obtaining and sending Adams' passport while Adams attended peace negotiations in Ghent. Refers to European peace proceedings in Vienna, stating that "The late symptoms of a coalition between France and England are the strongest guaranty of the continuance of Peace." Informs Harris that his wife, Louisa Catherine Adams, is in charge of several financial transactions in Adams' absence.

GLC01644

1 June 1826

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Printed document signed

Title: [Commission of James W. Ripley as Captain in the Fourth Regiment of Artillery]

Engraved document signed by Adams as president and countersigned by James Barbour as secretary of war. Includes a paper seal. A note on the side signed by "R. Jones" indicated that it was "Registered Vol: 2 page 59" in the attorney general's office. Ripley later became a general in the Civil War.

GLC01492

21 July 1815

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph document signed

Title: [Passeport N.5: Passport introducing American Joel Post as Envoy Extraordinary to England]

In French. Introduces Joel Post as Envoy Extroadinary to England and certifies that he is an American citizen. Also provides physical description of Post: his age (46), height (5' 9.5"), brow (high), eyes (grey), nose (straight), mouth (average), chin (round), hair color (blond) and face (oval). Document signed by John Quincy Adams, and signed and sealed in red by Post. Information on verso, also in French, listing the date of July, 1815, with two stamps reading "Legation de France a Londres."

GLC01676

May 20, 1844

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Barbara O'Sullivan Addicks

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. 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

September 24, 1842

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George N. Briggs

Declines an invitation to a Cattle Show and fair, citing age, his inability to attend public functions, and previous engagements. 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

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. 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 29 July 1818.

GLC00782.11.02