John AdamsHoughton, Mifflin, 1889 - 337 pages |
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Adams's admirable affairs afterward alliance American amid appeared army body Boston Braintree Britain British C. F. Adams cabinet cerning character chief colonies commissioners committee concerning Congress constitution court danger declaration delegates duty ence endeavored England English fact Federalists feeling foreign fortunately France Franklin French minister friends Gerry give Hamilton honor hope hostile independence influence jealousy Jefferson John Adams John Quincy Adams king least less letter MARGARET FULLER OSSOLI Massachusetts matter measure ment mind mission moral NATHANIEL PARKER WILLIS nation negotiation never nomination once opinion Paris party patriot peace Philadelphia Pickering Pinckney political position president province Quincy received Richard Henry Lee Samuel Adams seemed sense sent sentiments sion soon spirit Stamp Act success Talleyrand temper thought tion town treaty truth United Vergennes vice-president vote Washington wife wise wished Wolcott words wrote
Popular passages
Page 128 - The day is passed. The Fourth of July, 1776, will be a memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival.
Page 255 - But my country has in its wisdom contrived for me the most insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived or his imagination conceived.
Page 120 - WHEREAS, his Britannic majesty, in conjunction with the lords and commons of Great Britain, has, by a late act of parliament, excluded the inhabitants of these united colonies from the protection of his crown. AND WHEREAS, no answer whatever to the humble petitions of the colonies for redress of grievances and reconciliation with Great Britain, has been, or is likely to be given, but the whole force of that kingdom, aided by foreign mercenaries, is to be exerted for the destruction of the good people...
Page 129 - You will think me transported with enthusiasm, but I am not. I am well aware of the toil and blood and treasure that it will cost us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. Yet through all the gloom I can see the rays of ravishing light and glory. I can see that the end is more than worth all the means; and that posterity will triumph in that day's transaction, even though we should rue it, which I trust in God we shall not.
Page 128 - I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to' be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forevermore.
Page 79 - The business of the Congress is tedious beyond expression. This assembly is like no other that ever existed. Every man in it is a great man, an orator, a critic, a statesman ; and therefore every man upon every question must show his oratory, his criticism, and his political abilities.
Page 92 - That no obedience being due to the act of parliament for altering the charter of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay, nor to a governor or lieutenant-governor, who will not observe the directions of, but endeavor to subvert that charter, the governor and lieutenant-governor of that colony are to be considered as absent, and their offices vacant.
Page 301 - Had the foulest heart and the ablest head in the world been permitted to select the most embarrassing and ruinous measure, perhaps it would have been precisely the one which has been adopted.