601From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 8 January 1817 (Adams Papers)
I must begin my Letter by wishing you and yours, many returns of the Season, as pleasent, as delightfull as the present for the winter hitherto has been as mild, as the Summer was cold. “Sterne Says, God tempers the wind to the Shorn Lamb” and the winter as yet; has been temperd to the wants, and necessities of the people: altho their Herbage was cut off, and the Herds in their stalls will be...
602From Abigail Smith Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 1817 to 1818 (Adams Papers)
ever Since your last Letter to the president I have had a great inclination to address a Letter to mr vanderkamp and being now confined to my chamber by an attack of the Reumatism, I find a leisure hour to address my Friend in his Solitute In the first place, I assure him I have not any pretentions to the Character of a Learned Lady, and very therefore according to his creed intitled to his...
your Letter of Novbr 16th was an unexpected pleasure, for after yours of october the 13th, I had given up the Idea of receiving a line from you untill june, or july. you may easily imagine that your Letter was not only an unexpected, but a welcome guest, and the more so as it came drest in smiles of more content, than some of your Letters. I do not however wonder at your dislike of a climate...
604From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 3 March 1815 (Adams Papers)
I beleive the post Man thinks us very importent correspondents, as we observed that it was well the P had the priviledge of Franking. I have no Scruples upon that head as it is the only gratuity his country ever bestowed upon him. I mean to place a high value upon it, by as frequent a use of it as I have occasion for—George got home Safe altho through mud Snow and water. the day is now...
605From Abigail Smith Adams to Catherine Nuth Johnson, 4 May 1810 (Adams Papers)
I am indebted to you my dear Madam for three Letters. I have made two attempts before to acknowledge two of them; but was unable to accomplish my intention. The Spirit was willing, but alass the flesh so weak and feeble that my hand would not guide my pen. I have had a Severe Sickness, which has left me very low, and a slow fever continues to consume my strength and Spirits. When your Son in...
606From Abigail Smith Adams to Catherine Nuth Johnson, 19 December 1809 (Adams Papers)
Since I had the pleasure of writing to you, I have received further accounts from our Children, which I hasten to communicate to you, knowing from my own feelings, what a cordial for low spirits agreable news from a far Country is. The Letter from my Son is written at sea, and is a continuation of that which we before received from the Banks of Newfoundland. he writes, that after leaving the...
607From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 20 May 1815 (Adams Papers)
This day compleats five weeks since my dear Boys embarked for Liverpool, and now I anticipate their arrival and your, and their Mothers joy at the prospect of meeting them. if it is equal to the pain I felt at parting with them, I can wish you no greater enjoyment. My Reason and judgment, both approved of their going to you, for they were approaching an Age, when more vigilance was necesary,...
608From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 5 February 1814 (Adams Papers)
I was most unfortnate in not hearing, untill two Days before the Cartel from N york sailed, that there was one orderd by Goverment to take Mr Strong the consul to Sweeden, as a Special messenger. he was first to proceed to England with his dispatches for the Brtish Minister; and then immediatly to St Petersburgh. I sent my Letters to go by him, to John Smith at N york; one half hour before the...
609From 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 received two days since your Letter of Febry th 11. it containd information the most agreable that mr Adams was in better Health and Spirits is cheering news to me. I feared through want of attention to himself that his cough would fix upon his Lungs, and produce very allarming concequences—the time is fast approaching when Congress must rise, whether they have done good, or whether they...
It is a long time since I addresed a Letter to You, and a much longer since I received a Letter from you. altho there are so many natural impediments, and artificial obstruction in the way of a free communication, I will not wholy relinquish the hope I have: that some of the many Letters I have written may find there way to you. vessels arrive from the North, but do not bring any tydings of...
612From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 20 January 1811 (Adams Papers)
As I had made up my mind to Submit to the unpleasent circumstances attendent upon distance, and the frozen Region which not only excludes light, but seals up all communication with each other. I was the more delighted to receive your Letter of October 25th A day auspicious to me, altho in your Letter you do not notice it. The Aniversary of the day, which united me to your Father, and the 47th...
613From 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...
614From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 10 February 1816 (Adams Papers)
your Letter of Nov’br 7th allarmd me when I opend it, and Saw that it was in the hand writing of mrs Adams, and I read with trembling—while I rejoice that you have So able a Substitute, I cannot but regret the occasion for it—your hand may be restored to its use again, but your Eyes have reason to complain that you have used them too hardly. in this instance only—have you been a hard master to...
615From Abigail Smith Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 26 May 1815 (Adams Papers)
In the absence of your good Lady and daughter, whom I congratulate upon their excursion, I thought it a debt of Friendship to address a few lines to you by way of amusement, and in the first place I must exhort you to cultivate a cheerfullness of mind, which doeth good like a medicine. surely You are too much of a Phylosopher and a christian, to let the "Rubs and Stings of outrageous fortune"...
616From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 8 March 1815 (Adams Papers)
yesterdays Mail brought us the Nomination s to foreign Courts, yours of course, was to England. altho no event could have been so agreable to me, as your return to America. I feel a relief that that you have left the cold region of the North; and come so much nearer to me, where I can hope, with the return of peace, a freer intercourse with you, the only solace left me, to compensate for your...
617From Abigail Smith Adams to George Washington Adams, 23 May 1816 (Adams Papers)
with this Letter I inclose to you a list of those Letters which I have received from you, with their numbers and dates. I am sorry to learn that you suffer from ill health. I would have you refrain from the use of the flute, while that is the case. it is very injurious to the Lungs while the Body is weak. You Should rise early; and ride on Horse Back previous to going to your studies. your...
618From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 7 April 1816 (Adams Papers)
Upon this day solemnized to me, by the anniversary of the death of my beloved Sister, and by the recent event of yesterday, which has cut off an other Relative from the Parent Stock, by the death of our Friend mr William Smith. my mind is so much affected, that I shall feel a releif in communicating my feelings.—I am still living, lingering upon the confines, of the Grave, where e’er this day,...
619From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 11 March 1805 (Adams Papers)
As Congress are now up for this Season, you will be thinking of returning as soon as the Roads will permit, and that will be soon, unless we should have a renewal of winter. the two last weeks of Feb’ry and March as far as it is gone, has been very fine weather. uncommonly so, the grass springs, and the trees bud, too soon I fear for a climate so liable to sudden changes; I fear you will not...
620From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 1 May 1814 (Adams Papers)
Seeing in the paper of yesterday, that a vessel call’d the Thorne of New York, was to Sail on the 5th of the Month from Elizabeth city, for St Petersburgh, and to stop at Gottenburgh, I have embraced the opportunity to write to you, altho my notice is So short. to inform you that we are all well. including your sons in this number, who are now here, at their Spring vacation. I have directed...
I will not let mr Ingraham depart without a few Lines to you. I have written to you Several times since the date of your last Letter to me was in May. it carried with it so many melancholy traits, that I was greived to find how deeply You had been wounded. the Resignation, and fortitude you discoverd, after the first Paroxisms of your Greif had Subsided, made me hope, that it would not prey...
622From Abigail Smith Adams to Richard Rush, 14 July 1817 (Adams Papers)
I owe you many thanks for the early notice which you transmitted me, of mr Adams’s acceptance of the Appointment of State. untill yesterday, I have remaind without any direct communication from him. The Letter which I inclose for your perusal, I regret not having received a day or two Sooner, that I might have had the pleasure of communicating it to the President when he did us the favour of...
623From Abigail Smith Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 15 May 1810 (Adams Papers)
When I closed my Letter; last week to my son by captain Smith, I fully intended to have written to you, but my health has been very miserable for the last three Months, so that for many weeks I have not been able to touch a pen, a universal debility and weakness daily reminds me of my decay. it is then that the distance, and seperation from my dear Children most Sensibly wounds me, yet it...
624From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 15 February 1808 (Adams Papers)
I take it for granted that you will neither in public or private Life do any thing which you are unwilling to own, or to affix your Name. I write to ask you if uninvited you attended the Caucus at Washington of which mr Bradley was President? It is not the scandalous publication in Jacksons Register at Philadelphia, which has induced me to ask this question, but because I have considerd it as...
625From 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...
626From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 26 November 1816 (Adams Papers)
I think I will not give to any passenger any Letters, unless a Letter of introduction, for however urgent they are to be charged with them, I find frequently that they lay months before they are deliverd. If my Letters cannot have the Novelty of youth to recommend them, They will lose their most valuable quality, and be very dull in their old Age—like a twice told tale, and very like, better...
627From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 5 January 1812 (Adams Papers)
I rejoice that I can begin the new year without a Repetition of any mournfull, or afflictive Family dispensation, and that I can congratulate you of upon the Life of your Father, and his continued Health, upon that also of your Sons, your Brother, and upon the restoration of your Sister, and last of all that I am still enabled to hold a pen & can write to you, altho frequently assaild by...
628From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 10 March 1815 (Adams Papers)
Mr Depand has sent his Clerk here this Evening, to say that he would sail tomorrow in the Milo, captain Glover of this Town. the notice is short, and I should regret it the more if I had not already written to you by this same vessel. I have acknowledgd the receit of your Letters No 66, 23 Nov’br not first received, than of 26 of December No 67, and this day by way of England, your Letter of...
629From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 12 June 1814 (Adams Papers)
By mr william Appleton going to England in a Russian Ship I embrace the opportunity of writing to you, and of acknowledging the receipt of your Letters No 52 october 25 of Novbr 19th No 53. and of Febry 1st No 56—for all of which you have my thanks—your Father has also received your Letters of Sepbr 3d No 26. of october 15 No 27 Novbr 13 No 28. which I hope he will acknowledge by this...
630From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 4 March 1811 (Adams Papers)
You will no doubt receive from the President of the United States permission to return home, as he has been pleased to appoint you to an important office in the judiciary of the United States. the unanimous approbation of the Senate, and the Satisfaction which all parties unite in expressing must weigh in your mind powerfully. From What ever motives this general consent arrises, it proves,...
631From Abigail Smith Adams to Abigal Adams Shaw Felt, 15 April 1815 (Adams Papers)
I scarcely know how to address you by way of consolation, who myself stand so much in need of the Same Support. under one of the most Solemn impressive and afflictive dispensations with which it has pleased our Mather Heaven to inflict upon us—the loss of Such a parent cannot be estimated by the powers of language, the Silent Anguish of the Heart can alone pour it forth, yet while we bend over...
632From Abigail Smith Adams to Julia Stockton Rush, 21 December 1813 (Adams Papers)
your Letter found me this morning rising from the Bed of Sickness, to which I have been for three weeks confined by a dangerous Lung fever. I am much reduced, and weakened by the voilent cough which has accompanied it. my Symptoms, are now favorable my Physician assures me: but it is easier to pull down an old Building, than to repair, or rebuild to it and I must Sensibly feel my weakness. but...
633From 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...
634From Abigail Smith Adams to Eliza Susan Morton Quincy, 24 March 1806 (Adams Papers)
I have contemplated writing to you for some time, and thanking you for the information which I have received through you respecting my Son’s Health; when he writes himself, he is too much occupied with public cares, and too inattentive to himself, to give me such information as I am desirous of obtaining upon a subject, which has given me, many anxious hours. there are some malidies so deep...
635Abigail Adams, receipt, 17 January 1815 (Adams Papers)
Bought for John Adams as pr Bill 3 yds Satinet 11/6 5 75 1 yd Lining 34 ct 1 doz Buttons 50 2 Skains Silk 25 1 Skain Twist 12/2 paid Sampson making coat & mending Sundries 50 paid pray Soaling Boots 50 $7.96 1/2 Received in full Cash advanced by Mrs: A Adams—for GW & JA $7.96. MHi : Adams Papers.
6361810-1812 Abigail Adams, Rules for Disposing of the Day, 1810 to 1812 (Adams Papers)
Rules for disposing of the Day Rise by Six. if any time before Breakfast to walk out a little way into the garden after Breakfast.. to read a chapture in the Bible. then to sit down to Sew or knit for three hours. at 12 to quit work, and read write or amuse themselves as they please. at three oclock to apply again to the needle untill Six when the remainder of the time may be applied as they...
637Abigail Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 29 April 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
what right have I to be one of your tormentors? and amongst the numerous applicants for introductory Letters? why I will plead, old acquaintance, old Friendship and your well known Benevolence— but to the Subject of my present address. Mr Theodore Lyman , who possesses an ardent thirst for Literature, and whose Father , is one of our most respectable Characters for probity, honour, &...
638Abigail Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 15 December 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
My good Husband has call’d upon me for Some Letters, written to me by my Son , when he was last in paris , in 1815 in which he gives me a particular account of the Family of Count de Tracy and of the circumstances which introduced him to their acquaintance. Beleiving that it will give you pleasure to become acquainted with this happy Domestic circle , I readily embrace this opportunity of...
639Will of Abigail Adams, 18 January 1816 (Adams Papers)
I Abigail Adams wife to the Honble: John Adams of Quincy in the County of Norfolk, by and with his consent, do dispose of the following property. First, that injustice may not be supposed to be done to my Sons, I have conveyed to John Quincy Adams by Deed, all my right and title in the farm given me by my Unckle Norton Quincy valued at $2200, and to my Son Thomas Boylston Adams, all my part,...
640John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, with postscript by Abigail Adams, 20 June 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
The fit of recollection came upon both of Us, So nearly at the same time that I may, Sometime or other, begin to think there is Some thing in Priestleys and Hartleys vibrations. The day before Yesterday I Sent to the Post office a letter to you and last night I received your kind favour of the 10 th . The question before the human race is, Whether the God of nature Shall govern the World by...
641John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, with Postscript by Abigail Adams, 2 February 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
I know not what to Say of your Letter of the 11 th of Jan. but that it is one of the most consolatory, I ever received. To trace the Commence me nt of the Reformation I Suspect We must go farther back than Borgia , or even than Huss or Wickliff , and I want the Acta Sanctorum to assist me in this Research. That Stupendous Monument of human Hypocricy and Fanaticism the Church of St. Peter
642From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 15 July 1813 (Adams Papers)
Never mind it, my dear Sir, if I write four Letters to your one: your one is worth more than my four. It is true that I can Say and have Said nothing new on the Subject of Government. Yet I did Say in my Defence and in my Discourses on Davila, though in an uncouth Style, what was new to Lock, to Harrington, to Milton, to Hume, to Montesquieu to Roauseau, to Turgot, Condorcet, to Rochefaucault,...
643Three party indenture for distribution of property between JA and AA et al., 7 October 1814 (Adams Papers)
This indenture of three parts made and concluded this seventh day of October in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred & fourteen by and between John Adams Esquire and Abigail his wife in her right, of Quincy in the County of Norfolk & Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Richard Norton of Alexandria in the District of Columbia Esquire, William Norton of Weymouth in said County of Norfolk,...