91From Abigail Smith Adams to John Adams, 28 November 1815 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of Sep’br th 11 came safe to hand, and I was well pleasd With the account you give me of your pursuits. if you give proper attention to each department of your Studies, You cannot Spend much Idle time.—you have improved in your hand writing, and in your composition. Your Mother writes me that you learn fast. I know that you have a capacity to acquire what ever with dilligence you...
92From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 22 November 1815 (Adams Papers)
you do not know how much your company is desired at Quincy. these long Evening we want much, an addition to our Society. you are so well calculated for retirement, parties not being your prevailing passion. you can sit down and with your Book render the Evenings agreable. I read at the expence of my Eyes. Louisa reads, but wants glasses—Susan some times, but her face pains her if she reads...
93From Abigail Smith Adams to William Steuben Smith, 22 November 1815 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a Letter from Charles, by the hand writing. I received it yesterday, with a Letter from Mrs Adams dated 2 October: they were all well then, but I presume mrs Smith gets Letters frequently—I cover the Letter to your Father to you I wrote him one last week and sent to the valley, not recollecting that he might have left it. if he has not received it, you will be So good as to tell...
94From Abigail Smith Adams to Thomas Baker Johnson, 9 November 1815 (Adams Papers)
I received your Letter, bearing date july 1815 you must excuse me for not nameing the day of the month not having the Letter to refer to. writing to your Sister Adams a day or two after receiving it, I could not refrain making her a sharer in the pleasure which the contents of the Letter afforded me, and I inclosed the Letter to her. Since I received yours I have received two Letters from her,...
95From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 9 November 1815 (Adams Papers)
I this day received your Letter No 75 24th August by way of Newyork—Your Father had received one of a later date 31 August, in which you mention this to me.—I have written to you, and to Mrs Adams and the Children by Mr Smith, who saild from Nyork the begining of the Month, in the Minerva for Liverpool I thank you for the minute, and particular account you have given me of your Labours, and...
96From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 27 October 1815 (Adams Papers)
Since last monday, I have not been able to write you a line. I lived in bodily fear of the prevailing seve Disease knowing that an attendent was a distressing cough. on monday morning I rose all well as usual, compleated my Letters which were to go by John, and Sent them to the port. I Soon found I had a voilent fever in my head, accompanied with pain, which increasd with voilence, and my Eyes...
97From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 23 October 1815 (Adams Papers)
The vessels which I have already written by have been detaind: by contrary winds, and give me an opportunity of adding a few more lines. Your Father has also written to you, and as according to Deans Swifts practise, he usually Submits his Letters to the inspection of the Old Lady, for her approbation, or dissent, altho he will not always alter. In a Letter written this morning, more from...
It was with great pleasure that I received and read your Letter of August 6th from Ealing, and it communicated to me a double portion of delight, as it appeard to be the emanation of a mind more at ease, than you experienced in that cold dark region of Russia—Altho the climate of G Britain is much more humid than that of America, and you can never as the proverb, says praise a fair day, untill...
99From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 16 October 1815 (Adams Papers)
Mr Adams call’d yesterday morning before six oclock, I rose before light in order to write to you, and waited only for the sun to give me light to do so; but the man came before, and I had only time while he waited to scratch of the hasty line I sent, or I should have told you, that the paper came safe the by mr d Greenleaf. Caroline’s Letter informs me that she was well the 7th. that John had...
I must inclose a Note to you, to Say that this morning the mail from Utica in N york, informd me that I am again a Great Grandmother, Abbe Johnson was deliverd of a son upon the 3rd. of this Month, mr Johnson writes that he has a head of Black hair and black Eyes. a fine Boy you may be sure. and that he has taken the Liberty to call him after his Great Grandfather, Mother and Babe well upon...
101From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 12 October 1815 (Adams Papers)
Captain Tracy is to Sail on Sunday in the Galen. our young Gentlemen are all flying abroad. Some upon buisness. Some from curiosity. those of the most respectable standing apply for Letters of introduction to you—Your Father has given Letters to mr Prescott, who goes first to the Brazills. he has also written to you, and the children by mr John Gray, who is a passenger in the Galen. An other...
102From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 6 October 1815 (Adams Papers)
Last week I Sent Letters to Newyork for you Mrs Adams, and the children. I write now to Say that we are all well, and because I would not let a vessel go without a Letter for you I inclose one for George. we have not any Letters of a later date from you than july— Harper is displaying his Anti American Principles, if Principles he has. in Maryland a Part of that State are as turbulent as our...
103From Abigail Smith Adams to John Adams, 1 October 1815 (Adams Papers)
I was much pleased to receive your Letter of july 26th and to mark your improvement in your hand writing & in the regularity of your lines; Your Visit to Clapham must have been very delightfull to you: It is a pleasant village. I used to go often there when I resided in London, to visit an American family by the name of Vassel. I should like to know if any Branch of it, are yet living? There...
104From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 30 September 1815 (Adams Papers)
Peace with Algiers, Peace with Algiers did peace ever make a Great Man? Tis war that makes the Hero! This is the Speach of the Moor in Schillers Robbers only substituting Germany for Algiers, but has not the Sentiment a foundation in the Nature of man? but good dr Tillison says, that man is not naturally the Enemy of Man,—from whence then came wars and fightings? the divines will tell us, that...
I have to acknowledge a very tender and affectionate Letter from you, bearing date 8th Janry 1814, which I received only a few days since.—Sympathy from those we Love, when affliction assail us, is balm to the Bleading Bosom, and assuages the wound it cannot heal, and which is opened affresh. "when Memory with busy art will o’er the heart Strings play wake tender strains, tho full of smart Nor...
106From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 11 September 1815 (Adams Papers)
Captain Tracy is to Sail on Sunday in the galen. our young men are flying abroad. some upon buisness, some from curiosity; those of the most respectable Standing apply for letters of introduction to you. your Father has given letters to mr Prescott who goes first to the Brazills and now to mr John Gray who is a passenger in the Galen an other Gentleman has now applied by the Name of...
107From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 8 September 1815 (Adams Papers)
By your note last Evening I conclude you had not received my Letter by the post of fryday which I expected to have reachd you the Same day—it containd a Letter from me to mr Adams to go by the vessel which is up for London, and which I then expected would Sail on Sunday, I inclosed a dollar requesting a supply of paper, to be sent me last evening, the P. and I are quite exhausted—I want a...
108From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 8 September 1815 (Adams Papers)
I have not committed burglary this time—Caroline haven written in the cover, all well the 9th of Sep’br no I did not tell her of the liberty I took, So you need not go to frighten her least I should See clandestanly what you will communicate voluntaryly (Susan would Say See : G M—how you spell, So I will mend the word, voluntarily I did write you a note yesterday by the C. mail, did you not...
109From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 5 September 1815 (Adams Papers)
My correspondents increase so fast, that it puts out my eyes to write to them all. I have employd all this rainy morning in writing to Caroline to Abbe Shaw and to John Smith, the last Mail, did not give me the opportunity of writing to you this morning. I think with you that mrs A’s is a very good correspondent. She feels, what I experienced when I was in her situation; all is ceremony, all...
Your Letter of July 9th was joyfully received by me, it was not untill your Letter arrived, that I had any certain knowledge where you were, altho I had presumed from mr Adams Letter of 19 March from Paris, that you might have reachd there, the day after your Sister Smith left it. It grieves me to Say to you, that she has, had a Severe trial and affliction since she arrived in America, in the...
111From Abigail Smith Adams to John Adams, 31 August 1815 (Adams Papers)
knowing what a punctilious young gentleman you are, I would not let your old Captain Bronson Sail again without a Letter to you by mr Charles Dexter You notice your Birth day, and Say you are twelve years old. I do assure you Sir it was celebrated here, not withstanding your absence as usual; with the ringing of Bells publick orations, military parade and social festivals, nor did we forget to...
112From Abigail Smith Adams to Richard Rush, 30 August 1815 (Adams Papers)
I transmit, to you two Letter lately received altho of an old date. they may communicate to you some facts which perhaps you might not receive from any other Source. I do it in confidence, as Some of the Sentiments are not calculated for the meridian where the writer now is. where in a Subsequent Letter of july 17th he writs that “one cannot indulge even a Sentiment of compassion for the...
113From Abigail Smith Adams to William Steuben Smith, 30 August 1815 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed are two Letters which I received last evening with a Letter from your Brother Uncle , and your Aunt Sister , to me. his bears date 17 july. he Says the Commercial Treaty was signd the 3d of this Month, and that mr Gallatin and Clay have Saild for Nyork with it. it is only for four years duration. His Situation in England is not like to be very agreable, either to him or to her; and he...
114From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 26 August 1815 (Adams Papers)
I closed a Letter to you last week, and sent it to Liverpool by the Juno Captain Emery—full of wailings for Letters at that time we had not received a line since those brought to us by mr Smith, untill thursday the 23d of this month, when the Galen arrived. by her you Father received one of 19th June, and from each of my Grandsons I had the pleasure of hearing from under their own hand’s I do...
115From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 17 August 1815 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for the pamphlet sent me and think the writer more sinned against than sining. I will keep it, so charge me with it. I am glad to find Caroline at Home, after her Letter to me from N York in whih she mentions the packets getting upon the Rocks, and their taking a Boat to go on shoar I trust, that the packet was founderd did you hear so? She does not mention the circumstance as...
116From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 15 August 1815 (Adams Papers)
This Anniversary is So well known to you, that you will not wonder; that it always returns with a Solemn knell to me. how many of these days in a year have we to call to remembrance, when Some Root, or Branch has been Severd from us? and now one of the third generation is added to the number. Catharine has lost her Daughter with the Measles. both Parents are much afflicted. I wished to have...
117From Abigail Smith Adams to Abigal Adams Shaw Felt, 13 August 1815 (Adams Papers)
I have not written to you for a long time. I heard from you through your Brother, who kept Sabbeth with us this day week. Mr and mrs de Wint have past 5 weeks with us and I have had a large family, which you know brings much care. They left us last week—Caroline Spoke often of you, and desired me to give her Love to you. She was not well, and went out very little while She was here. the death...
118From Abigail Smith Adams to George Washington Adams, 7 August 1815 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Letter written at Sea dated the 1st of May, and was pleased that you had kept your promise of writing to me, and I hope you will continue to inform me of what you see in your Tour, which you have marked out, in your Letter, when you tread upon the ground where Shakespear was born You will naturaly feel a veneration for the Spot, and wish for some spark of his genius. when...
119From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 6 August 1815 (Adams Papers)
My Eyes have been very troublesome the week past, So that I have not used my pen. I thank you for Carolines Letter, was rejoiced to find She got along so well. the next day was voilently hot, untill the cloud arose in a tempest in Salem in a fine refreshing showr in Boston, but to us barren clouds without water. we have had only a Slight Sprinkle. the heavens are as Brass the Earth powder and...
120From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 13 July 1815 (Adams Papers)
I again take my pen, not to find any fault with you, that I do not hear from you, because I know that many Letters must be upon the wings of the wind, written by you, for me. I have only to regret, that they are so slow, to satisfy my earnest desire to hear from you; I have been made joyfull by learning that your sons had a fine passage, and arrived safe; and I see by the papers mention made...