271From Abigail Smith Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, January 1811 (Adams Papers)
Mr Lincoln our Carpenter came this morning from Weymouth he saw mrs Humphries who watchd last night with Mrs Norten. She Said that mrs Norten was a little revived this morning I hope with trembling—may we be enabled to say Gods will be done for herself we need feel no anxiety. She will be relieved from her Earthly duties which Seem too great for her feeble Frame frame but for her Friends and...
272From Abigail Smith Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, January 1811 (Adams Papers)
How are you to day? have you heard from weymouth? I send you a Barrel of pears and a Barrel of Russet Apples. if you have them put under your corn House untill the weather freezes they will keep better I also ask your acceptance of a Barrel of Rye flower—I hope I Shall be able to See you tomorrow: I am taking calomil to day—I Send the Linnen and my two Trunks which you have always been So kind...
273From Abigail Smith Adams to William Cranch, 17 October 1811 (Adams Papers)
Your dear Father has joind the Spirits of the Blessed made perfect, on saturday last he was taken sick, appeared as he frequently has upon former days was wandering in his mind,—but a general prostration of strength took place. He was sensible only for a few moments at a time; exhausted Nature sunk to rest, without pain or struggle, and heaven has been pleased to save him the anguish of...
274From Abigail Smith Adams to William Cranch, 1817 to 20 May 1818 (Adams Papers)
I yesterday received your Letter from Annapolis of May 8th. I congratulate you my dear Sir, that altho the clouds have been darkned round you, and altho You have experienced by death the loss of kind and worthey Friends, others are rising up to Supply their place. the opening now which presents itself, is Such as may give you Sanguine hopes & Light prospect. I sincerely wish they may be...
275From Abigail Smith Adams to William Cranch, 26 March 1817 (Adams Papers)
Mr W S Smith with Mrs Smith are upon a visit to her Relations in Washington. he is desirious of paying his Respects to you, as a Relation, and as a desendent of the Venerable Characters, whom he remembers with Respect and veneration— He is desirious of obtaining employment under the Government. in what Capacity I do not know. His being So nearly Related to me, deprives him of all the advantage...
276From Abigail Smith Adams to William Cranch, 25 October 1811 (Adams Papers)
The solemn and impressive scenes through which I have passed the last week, were too affecting to me to commit to paper. I thank God for that support and consolation which now enables me to address the only son of my dear departed brother and sister, endeared to me by every tie of affection and consanguinity, whose lives were a worthy example to all their posterity, and whose deaths were a...
277From Abigail Smith Adams to Hannah Phillips Cushing, 22 May 1811 (Adams Papers)
. . . Judge Dana is removed, and no man seemeth to lay it to heart. If my absent son had been in America the grave would not thus silently have closed over him. A gentleman who had sustained several public offices with reputation, and who for several years had filled that of Chief Justice of the state, which all who knew him acknowledged that he discharged with fidelity, and integrity, ably,...
278From Abigail Smith Adams to Hannah Phillips Cushing, March 1808 (Adams Papers)
your Letter begun at wWashington and finishd at Baltimore I received a few days since read and wept over it, most tenderly sympathizing in the Sorrow which have harrowd up the Bosom of my Friend since we last parted. I had heard of your Safe arrival at Washington and found from the papers and from private Friends that the Judge had been so well as to constantly to attend court. This was so...
279From Abigail Smith Adams to Hannah Phillips Cushing, 1 September 1812 (Adams Papers)
Your kind invitation would be joyfully accepted by my young Ladies, but at present they have with them Some Ladies Staying with them upon a Visit, whom it would be improper for them to leave—they will however embrace the first opportunity of paying their Respects to you. they will regreet it much if miss Alwin Should be absent, to whom they desire to be kindly rememberd. Mrs Smith and Caroline...
280From Abigail Smith Adams to Hannah Phillips Cushing, 17 February 1812 (Adams Papers)
I have been contemplating writing to you for Several weeks past to inquire after your health & that of your Family through the winter but I have delayd it untill the call of Friendship bids me unite my Sympathy with the bereve’d Sisters and Relatives over the brave youth who has fallen in defence of the honour justice and Rights of his Country. How beautifull is death when earned by virtue....
281From Abigail Smith Adams to Hannah Phillips Cushing, 18 February 1813 (Adams Papers)
I have been contemplating writing to you for Several weeks past; to inquire after your health, and that of your Family through the winter, but I have delayed it, untill the voice of Friendship bids me sympathy with the bereaved Sisters and Relatives over the Brave Youth, who has fallen in defence of the injured Rights & honour of his Country. How beautifull is death when earned by virtue Who...
282From Abigail Smith Adams to Hannah Phillips Cushing, 15 September 1810 (Adams Papers)
If I had known the Messenger who left the Letter from your Neice, communicating to me the death of your beloved Husband, would have called upon his return, I should not have delayed. to have assurd you how sincerely I feel your Sorrow, or how pathetically I mourn our own loss. For to your dear departed Friend, we have reason to say, blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. To feel and...
283From Abigail Smith Adams to Hannah Phillips Cushing, 2 March 1811 (Adams Papers)
How often I have in imagination I have visited you this Dreary season. I know not, but not a day has past without my thinking of you, and wishing that it had been my good fortune to have been situated in the Neighbourhood of you. then would your cheering countenance have enlivened the confinement I have experienced since I saw you. for the week after I was taken sick and am now only leaving my...
284From Abigail Smith Adams to Hannah Phillips Cushing, 3 November 1811 (Adams Papers)
I owe to your Friendship, a Letter of thanks for the interest you take in whatever concerns me or mine. I know your Sympathizing Heart will hasten to pour the balm of consolation into the afflicted Bosom of your Friend, when you learn that my dear and beloved Sister is numberd with the dead. this is an event which my mind was in a measure prepard for, from her long Sickness, but I had not...
285From Abigail Smith Adams to Hannah Phillips Cushing, 16 September 1813 (Adams Papers)
I had determined yesterday, to Sit out this morning with Louisa, and make you a visit of a day, and leave her with you, but now I think it my duty to turn another way and personally to Sympathize with my afflicted Friends, mr and mrs Smith in Boston. his feeble health was much reduced by the heat of the last week: and by a bleading at the mouth, which has placed his life at great hazard—but...
286From Abigail Smith Adams to Hannah Phillips Cushing, 22 May 1811 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of I received by the last mail. I had been in daily expectation of hearing from you, or Seeing you Since the begining of the Month. my own health is better than when I wrote you last and I think I could enjoy my dear Mrs Cushing Society whenever She will favour me with it ; I have not any expectation of leaving home for more than two days which will be in Boston. Since the Short...
287From Abigail Smith Adams to Hannah Phillips Cushing, September 1810 (Adams Papers)
Altho my Health would not permit me to personally to pay the last respect to my Ancient and valuable Friend. by attending his remains to the Tomb, through the whole of the melancholy Scene-and my mind dwelt upon you my much Loved Friend with every Sentiment of tenderness and Sympathy I longd to mingle with you the tears of affection bereaved affection and to recapitulate the virtues and...
288From Abigail Smith Adams to Hannah Phillips Cushing, 15 May 1814 (Adams Papers)
I really was much rejoyed to See once again your hand writing. While I feelingly Sympathize with you, in the weakness of your Eyes, which deprives your Friends, of one of there greatest enjoyments, a Friendly Epistolary intercourse with you. I have sufferd much these Six months, from a Similar cause, altho mine is not a Constant complaint. it must be an increasing one with years I had a Severe...
289From Abigail Smith Adams to Hannah Phillips Cushing, 17 March 1817 (Adams Papers)
There is Surely a Secret Sympathy between us, for the very week in which you have written me I was contemplating to write you a Letter. I was only doubtfull where to address it. You have kindly removed this difficulty, and I have the pleasure to learn by your Letter that you have past the winter Socially with your Friends at Plimouth—Solitary you never were when inhabiting your own...
290From Abigail Smith Adams to Hannah Phillips Cushing, 5 March 1811 (Adams Papers)
I believe I may say with truth, that I have been your daily visitor through the dreary season of winter, and altho not visible to you, I have sometimes seated myself by your fire side, and held sweet converse with you; and not unfrequently regretted that it was not my good fortune to have been situated near your dwelling; then would your cheering countenance have enlivened the confinement I...
291From Abigail Smith Adams to Caroline Amelia Smith De Windt, 5 June 1816 (Adams Papers)
After a year’s absence I came yesterday to make a visit to my friends for three days. Our anxiety to hear from you, led me to send to the office this morning for letters; there I found yours of May 31st, containing tidings that my fears had anticipated, as you will find when you receive my last letter. My dear child, you will be again called to severe and afflictive scenes; may you be...
Your Apology for not having written before was accepted by your grandmother. To be attentive to our guests is not only true kindness, but true politeness: for if there is a virtue which is its own reward, hospitality is that virtue. We remember slight attentions, after we have forgotten great benefits; sweetness of temper, easiness of behaviour, and kindness of disposition, are peculiarly...
last Saturday my Dear Children and grandsons viz William your Brother, and little Charles Adams sailed in the Ship Horace Capt Beckford for Saint petersburgh this Seperation from a dear son at the advanced Age both of your Grandfather and me, was like taking our last leave of him, and was felt by us both, with the keenest anguish. our hearts were, “garnerd up in him” perhaps too closely and we...
Your neat, pretty letter, looking small, but containing much, reached me this day. I have a good mind to give you the journal of the day. Six o’clock. Rose, and, in imitation of his Britannic Majesty, kindled my own fire. Went to the stairs, as usual, to summon George and Charles. Returned to my chamber, dressed myself. No one stirred. Called a second time, with voice a little raised. Seven...
I received your letter this day, written from Springfield; this has been a relief to us to hear that you were well, and that your dear mother bore her journey so well. After you left me I felt no restraint upon me, and could give way to all I felt and all I had suppressed; my harp was upon the willow, and my spirits at a very low ebb; I have in some measure recovered them, and follow you daily...
“Delightful praise, like summer rose, That brighter in the dew-drop glows.” They were sweet drops which flowed from the heart to the eyes both of your grandfather and grandmother, when I read to him the two letters you had transcribed to your uncle and to your father, in commendation of your brother. You could not have offered a sweeter incense to your grandfather; and flowing from the pen of...
Yesterday was our Thanksgiving day. In our own way, and with tempers suited to the occasion, we gave thanks for those blessings which we felt had been granted to us in the year past, for the restoration and recovery from dangerous sickness of members of our own family; and, although in one instance we had been called to weep, in many others we had cause of rejoicing. We were in health; we had...
As Dean Swift says, “eyes with writing almost blind,” I commence a letter to you, near ten o’clock at night, after having written seven letters to go abroad by the Milo. I have been wishing to write to you all the week, but last Friday, in a snow storm, who should come to make me a visit, but Mrs. Cushing, who is always a welcome guest; she stayed until Tuesday; I could not leave her to write....
Thursday the 30th of November was our thanksgiving day. I was not able to go to meeting owing to my eye, which I regretted very much, as our good minister is always excellent upon particular occasions, I am told he was upon this At dinner I looked round, I hope with a thankful heart, but alass! how many of my dear children were absent, not one of them to give pleasure to the festive table, for...
I do not know how our account stands, whether I am indebted for a letter or you, but I shall not be very strict with you; I am always delighted with your letters, whether to me or to Susan; we talk daily of you, and wish for you, and when I think how far you all are from me, I am ready to sit down and weep. We go on much in the old way here—now and then a large party, then a few friends....