From John Adams to John Quincy Adams

8 March 1814

My dear Son

Quincy March 8th. 14.

I will not afflict you with lamentations over the Confinement of your Parents during the greater part of the Winter. Your Mother is restored to her usual health. I am better but feeble. My Eyes have suffered, and the quivering of my Fingers renders Writing painful, at a Time when The Hon. Mr Taylor of Virginia has published an immense Volume the lucubrations of Twenty years upon my obsolete and forgotten Writings. What shall I do with this learned and ingenious Writer?

Dexter has been made candidate for Governor and the Usual Sluices are opened to drown him. I am not sorry, for there is a Sort of Comfort in having companions.

We have lost our Sociable Neighbor Mrs Beale

Smith makes now and then a Laconic Speech: but on the wrong side. You will hear enough of dissentions among all our political and military Grandees. Otis is a Judge in the Boston Israel!!!

Your Sons are here, Well, good Scholars, in fine Spirits. George is Writing in this room.

I am reading Middletons free Inquiry, which I recommend to your Attentive Perusal.

Much as I long to See you, I begin almost to despair. Remember me to all.

Mr Gustavus Tuckerman Son of a very respectable old Friend will deliver this from your ardently affectionate

John Adams

MHi: Adams Papers.

This early access document derives from raw transcriptions, prior to editing and publication in Rotunda's American History Collection. If this document is cited in formal research, it should be noted that it is not a final version, and that the URL you used to access it is not permanent.
Please report any errors or problems you notice in documents.