271From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 1 December 1817 (Adams Papers)
The moon shone so bright this morning that I rose, as it seems while it was yet Night, and allotted a portion to my Maidens, & set my whole house hold in motion, for you must know that we have Six Men at this day, three ladies, who love us so dearly that they must stay. a cold winter comeing & no Home, and wish the old Gentleman was but 25—I had a specimin of a compliment this morning from one...
272From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 26 January 1811 (Adams Papers)
I have already written to you twice by this opportunity. I had not intended to have taken my pen the third time, but having received intelligence from Washington which I wish’d might be communicated to mrs Adams, and her Sister with that prudence and tenderness which so distressing an event calls for I thought it best to communicate to you the Sudden death of Mrs Hellen, who was at Church on...
273From Abigail Smith Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 20 September 1813 (Adams Papers)
your kind and Friendly Letter found me in great affliction for the loss of my dear, and only daughter, mrs Smith She had been with me only three weeks having undertaken a journey from the state of Nyork, desirious once more to see her parents, and to close her days under the paternal roof she was accompanied by her son and daughter. who made every exertion to get her here, and gratify what...
274From Abigail Smith Adams to Julia Stockton Rush, 24 September 1813 (Adams Papers)
will you give me leave to introduce to your acquaintance the Rev’d mr Coleman, a gentleman who is setled in a Neighbouring Town my Neighbourhood, and who is travelling for his Health. both the president and myself your Friend have a high Respect and esteem for this Gentleman, who is what every Clergyman ought to be a liberal Christian, a Gentleman of Science taste & literature—and what I know...
275From Abigail Smith Adams to Julia Stockton Rush, 13 June 1813 (Adams Papers)
I have been sick almost ever since I had the pleasure of receiving your favour of May, but in sickness or health my mind has been with you. not a day has past that I have not visited your Bereved habitation and sat with you disconsolable and mourning, the recollection of the kind tender and affectionate Physician who has so often releived my pains and sufferings who cheered me by his Smiling...
276From Abigail Smith Adams to Ann Frances Harrod Adams, 17 May 1811 (Adams Papers)
I rode up to your house this morning to inquire how the Children were and heard that they were both well. dexter Slept there last night. I will Send George in with the chaise tomorrow, if mr Adams returns. George may come out in the Stage. If there Should be any Salmon to be had tomorrow and mr Foster would get me part of one, I will be much obliged to him—I should not like to give more than a...
277From 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...
278From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, February 1809 (Adams Papers)
The Saturday after you left Boston, I went to Town, and brought up George. he went the next week to his uncle Cranch’s, and goes daily to school to mr Whitney. he appears well pleased, and learns to the Satisfaction of mr Whitney as I hear, who has put him into Lattin, which George Says is not so hard as French, in his French Bible his Aunt hears him daily. he is a Good Boy, save now and then,...
279From Abigail Smith Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 28 May 1816 (Adams Papers)
Altho’ I have repeatedly written to you Since I received a Letter from you, I am not critical in that respect. judging from my own feelings, I think a Letter from a Friend always acceptable and altho’ they cannot be so interesting to you, as when your sons were with me, yet they may convey the assuriance of the Love and regard of which I bear you; and the interest I take in whatever concerns...
280From 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...
I received your Letter of december 6th on the 14th and was very glad to hear of your safe arrival at washington; the journey at this Season when the days are so short must always be fatigueing. It must have been less so to you than it would have been with the children, tho I doubt not you must miss them very much. they are very well. John is as thick as he is long, has out grown his cloaths....
282From Abigail Smith Adams to Lucy Cranch Greenleaf, July 1813 (Adams Papers)
Mrs Smith reachd here yesterday at about ten oclock was like your dear Mother taken out of the carriage in a chair and carried to her chamber—She is indeed a very sick woman, spasms draw her up, cannot take food. every thing oppresses her—any Indian meal and water—her stomack seems to have lost its tone. how she got here is a marvel to me, a constant worry upon her nerves, so that at times she...
I address you jointly and congratulate you upon the fine weather we have had since you commenced your journey I hope e’er this day, you have reached washington in safety , with your dear little Boy; for whose Safety, I was not a little anxious through so long and fatigueing a journey. We had the pleasure to receive a Letter from you, informing us of your arrival at New york— The week after you...
284From Abigail Smith Adams to Julia Stockton Rush, 6 May 1814 (Adams Papers)
I received your Letter, and one which you forwarded for mrs Cuthbert, which I gave my Friend, who will be punctual to deliver it to the House, who transmit it. I hope for its safety and find a pleasure in being instrumental in bringing together long absent Friends. If your son or daughters should any of them travel this way, I hope they will not fail to visit, the Ancient Friends of their...
285From Abigail Smith Adams to Richard Rush, 12 August 1817 (Adams Papers)
I received your obliging favour of july 29th with the inclosure. I had not any objection to your taking a copy. It was my wish that you Should,—altho I hesitated at Saying So, least the partiality of a Parent Should mislead me. I feel that you take an interest in my present happiness, in the Safe return of my Son to his Native Country, altho I have not yet Seen him.—it is no Small...
286From 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...
287From Abigail Smith Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, September 1813 (Adams Papers)
your kind and sympathetic Letter demands my thanks and receives my gratitude—my own loss is not to be estimated by words and can only be alleiviated by the consoling beleif that my dear Child is partakeing of that Life and immortality brought to Light by him who endured the cross and is gone before to prepare a place for those who Love him, & keep his commandments. her patience Submission and...
288From Abigail Smith Adams to Ann Frances Harrod Adams, July 1814 (Adams Papers)
I Sit down to thank you for your Letter yesterday received by the post, and to Say that I was much rejoiced to find you and my Son, in improved health & Spirits, and at the Same time to Say to you that, your Children are well. Thomas my particular Charge is very well and as good a Boy as I wish— gives me no trouble—Hull is finely—I have heard from him every day, and been twice to See him, and...
289From 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...
290From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, September 1816 (Adams Papers)
you are at Liberty to publish the following extract, as a Letter from abroad to a Friend. They are my sentiments well dressed—and he who gave the Toast deserves chastisement were he my Son Brother or Husband I would say so— “I can never join with my voice in the Toast which I see in the papers, attributed to one of our Gallant Naval commanders. I cannot ask of heaven success, even for my...
291From Abigail Smith Adams to Elizabeth Coombs Adams, 21 October 1810 (Adams Papers)
My Grandaughter The present Mrs. Treadway availed herself of your kind invitation to make you a visit, and her Friend miss Tracy, Sensible of the advantage Young people derive from mixing with those whose example and Manners ornament and improve, whilst they delight and Churm Charm those Susceptable of improvement. I consented to Susan earnest desire of passing a little time from home. her...
By a vessel which saild a week since, I wrote to my Son, and Grandson’s. by this I shall write only to you, and acknowledge your favour of 2d Jan’ry. I was very sorry to learn that George had been attack’d with a Rheumatic complaint, a disorder, which when once in the constitution, continues a torment through Life. Georges Growth, has been so rapid, that he must not be forced to great...
293From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 29 July 1812 (Adams Papers)
Mr Benjamin Beal jun’r Who has long resided in France, returnd last Winter upon a visit to his Family here as he connected himself in France, his stay here has been Short, and he is now going back in a to Liverpool, and from thence to France I request him to take this Letter for you, which I shall place under-cover to Mr Barlow our Minister in France that he may forward it to you by the first...
294From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 2 May 1816 (Adams Papers)
Mr Edward Brooks, Eldest son of mr P C Brooks has visited us, and offerd to take Letters for us to you. his parents you know, and this young Gentleman is worthy of such parents he is said by those best acquainted with him to be a solid Sensible and correct Character—Such as will do no dishonour to our Native State, or Country. any civility in your power to show him, will be gratefully received...
295From Abigail Smith Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 8 August 1813 (Adams Papers)
I cannot let my Son visit Plimouth without bearing a few lines to my old Friend who has always taken a kind interest in the welfare of my dear Daughter Smith, who reached here a fortnight Since with her Sister Son and daughter, but So helpless in her Limbs as not to be able to walk across the Room, obliged to be carried in a chair from the Chamber to the Carriage—If this was all the melancholy...
296From Abigail Smith Adams to Abigal Adams Shaw Felt, 29 April 1815 (Adams Papers)
your Letter my dear Abbe is worthy the daughter of the Mother you mourn, whose disposition and virtues the mantle of Elijah has descended to cover you you will have engrafted into your own Life and conduct , and now exhibit with So much credit to the honour of the Religion of him who took upon him the infirmities of human Nature, & compassionated the Sorrows of a Martha & Mary— may the hand of...
297From Abigail Smith Adams to Esther Black, 24 January 1813 (Adams Papers)
your Letter of December & gave me pleasure, and I wish I could in return Communicate the Same to you, but Since I wrote you last you have been calld to mourn with is —Dear Relatives the loss of a kind Husband and the affectionate parent of a Numerous family from your long connection & intimacy with them, the Sudden Death of the Head of such a family must nearly afflict you— and I hope you will...
298From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 10 August 1817 (Adams Papers)
Through the kind of attention of mr Crafts we learnt yesterday morning of the arrival of the Washington, and in the Evening, through our watchfull centinal Harriet, I received the gratefull intelligence under your own hand, that you were Landed and all well for which joyfull News to your parents; God be thanked—we now wait, in pleasing expectation of welcoming You; one and all, to the old...
299From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 1 August 1816 (Adams Papers)
I embrace the earliest oppertunity, after receiving the inclosed, of forwarding it to you; I received a Letter at the same time. William & Family I find are gone, but C had not heard from them after they left the city. She does not Say to me when She expects to Sit out for Quincy—I presume she has been more particular to you. I have Letters from England to the 9th of June, entertaining as...
300From 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...