181John Adams to Abigail Adams, 5 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
By your Uncles Letter of 26 feb., he could not hear of any Letters from me by Trash. I certainly wrote by him from Corunna, so did the Children. I wrote to Congress, as well as to you. I wrote also by Babson, who carried some Things for you, from Bilbao. I hope the letters are not lost. I went a few days ago to Biçetre, to see the Curiosities of that Place. It is a Bedlam for the Mad, a Prison...
182John Adams to Abigail Adams, 3 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
Having just heard of a Small Brig bound directly from Nantes to Boston, I write you, one Line. The day before Yesterday, I had a letter from your Uncle S mith by Way of Amsterdam, 26 February. I should advise you to embrace these Opportunities by Way of Spain and Holland, otherwise I shall very seldom hear from you. There are a full Bushell of Letters from me, and your share is among them, on...
183John Thaxter to Abigail Adams, 30 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
That a Nation once distinguished in the Annals of Mankind, should by the Pride, Avarice, Ambition, Injustice and Oppression of its Governors, loose its distant Dependencies, is not an uncommon Event in the History of the World; but that the same Nation, from the Operation of the same Causes, together with Folly and Madness, should league one half the World against her, is not only a Phenomenon...
184Elbridge Gerry to Abigail Adams, 17 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
By the last Post I was honored with your Letter of the 13th March, communicating in Confidence your Sentiments on a certain publication in the Philadelphia Paper, which had been too striking to escape the Notice of Mr. A dams ’s Friends in this Quarter. It is not easy to ascertain the Intentions, of the philosophical Society in their Election of Mr. A . . . . s, or how far they were concerned...
185John Adams to Abigail Adams, 6 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
There is a great deal of hatred against the Govt. in England as you will see by the song inclosed. They are going on, with County meetings, Petitions, Committees, Correspondences, Associations &c. in our mode. What it will come to, I dont know. They talk in London about withdrawing the Troops, &c., but I suspect, We had better take em, least they should alter their minds. At last a Vessell has...
186John Adams to Abigail Adams, 28 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Izard goes off, the day after tomorrow, and will carry this, and all the News there is. We have none from America, a long time. I have only yours of 10 decr. since I left you. I hope you have received Letters from me, from Corunna and Bilbao. There are gone many for you, since my Arrival here, but I suppose are still detained at the Sea Ports. They will soon sail. My 3 Boys dined with me...
187John Adams to Abigail Adams, 24 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
This goes by Colonel Fleury, whom you know, who desires to carry a Letter to you. My three Boys dined with me Yesterday, being a Playday for them, in fine Health and Spirits. I long to hear, whether Captain Trash arrived from Corunna, who had Letters from me to you, or Captain Babson who had Letters and more. I dont know whether you have yet heard of our Arrival. There are a great Number of...
188James Lovell to Abigail Adams, 21 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
I most sincerely rejoice with you on the safe Arrival of Mr. Adams in Spain after so short a Passage tho’ attended with some Hardships. In addition to the News in the Prints I venture, upon some confidential assurances from the worthy Genl. Lincoln, to excite your Hopes as to our affairs in that Quarter. It is recommended to redeem the continental Currency at 40 for 1 and to model the Tender...
189John Adams to Abigail Adams, 16 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have never answered your Letter of the 8th. of June, that I remember, and there is nothing in it that requires a particular Answer but it affects me, with a Pleasure and a Tenderness and an Anxiety and a Pain, that I cannot describe to you, as all your Letters ever did and ever will, that describe your own sentiments and your own Distresses as well as those of our Country. They are the...
190John Adams to Abigail Adams, 16 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have not particularly answered your amiable Letter of 10 Decr. Your tender Anxiety distresses me, much: I hope your Faith however, has returned before now with your Spirits. If Captain Trash arrived safe from Corunna you have heard from me, or if Babson from Bilboa. Your delicate Charles is as hardy as a flynt. He sustains every thing better than any of Us, even than the hardy Sailor his...
191John Adams to Abigail Adams, 15 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have sent you Things from Bilbao, by Captain Babson, and a small present by the M. de la Fayette, another by Mr. Lee, another by Mr. Wharton, and shall send another by Mr. Brown, another by Mr. Izard, and perhaps another by the Viscount de Noailles, and the Alliance will bring you and your Neighbours, what you and they wrote for. I intend to tax every Gentleman who goes from here, towards...
192John Adams to Abigail Adams, 15 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Brown, whom I left at Passy, when I returned to you, and whom I found here, upon my return to Paris, will deliver you this and another Letter which I intended to have sent by the Viscount de Noailles, and two small Bundles containing a Piece of Chintz each. The Price is horrid, Sixty Livres a Piece, but I cannot trade, I suppose others would get them at half Price. If you will make me buy...
193John Thaxter to Abigail Adams, 15 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
On Monday Morning I had the Honor to go with his Excellency and Mr. D ana to breakfast with the celebrated Abbè Reynald, in Com pany with a large Collection of Nobility and Gentry of both Sexes. In opening upon this Company, (which was unexpected to poor me) I felt all that irksome Discomposure and painful Confusion, which so respectable an Assembly of Strangers could produce in one...
194Mercy Otis Warren to Abigail Adams, 10 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have to thank my Friend Mrs. Adams for a very agreable Letter Received a few days since. I shall make no other Apology for my long silence, but a Frank acknowledgment that I had layed asside my pen in Complesance to her, supposing her time and Attention taken up in more profitable correspondencies. But shall Fail at no time to shew myself Equally ready to Resume it. I Rejoice in the Happy...
195James Lovell to Abigail Adams, 7 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
The Post but now arrived will be again on his Way in an Hour; I retire therefore from a Circle of public Debate, to acknowledge, at a Side-Window, your Favor of February 13th. this Moment unsealed. I admire the Remarks. Be persuaded, lovely Moralist, to indulge me with a Sight of what occasioned them—“Passages of Letters of January 6th. and 18th.” I shall be much chagrined if you do not...
196John Adams to Abigail Adams, 28 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have sent you, one yard of fine Cambrick, at 14 Livres an Ell, two of a coarser sort at 6 Livres an Ell. Eight India Handkerchiefs at 6 Livres each and three of another stamp at 6 Livres a Piece. These seem monstrous dear, but I could not get them cheaper. If the Marquis should make you a Visit You will treat him with all Distinction that is due to his Merit and Character, as well as his...
197John Adams to Abigail Adams, 28 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have already sent to the Marquis de la Fayette, a Number of Letters for you, and the Children, from their Brothers, who favoured me with their Company last night and are just gone off to the Accademy. Charles’s Master is full of his Praises, and John I think is more solid and steady than ever. In two of the Letters to you, you will find no Writing, only a small Present to you and Miss Nabby,...
198John Adams to Abigail Adams, 27 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
The House of Joseph Guardoqui and Sons of Bilbao, have sent you some necessaries to the Amount of about 200 Dollars, by Captain Babson of N ewbury Port, belonging to Mr. Tracy, and I have ordered them to send duplicates and Triplicates, by other good Opportunities. I have also written to Mr. Moylan of L’orient to send all the Things of which you gave me Minutes, for yourself, Mr. W ibird , M....
199John Adams to Abigail Adams, 23 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
The Children made me a Visit to day, and went with me to dine with my old Friends the two Abbys, whom you have often heard me mention, Chalut and Arnoux, who desire me to mention them to you in my Letters as devoted Friends of America, and particular Friends to me and to you, notwithstanding the difference of Religion. The Children are still in good Health, and Spirits and well pleased with...
200John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 17 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
As there is an opportunity of writing to you, I must by no means let it Slip me; I have wrote you a Small account of my Voyage and that we were obliged to put into Ferrol in Spain. After a terrible journey from thence to Paris of about 1000 Miles we have at last once more reach’d Paris, the day after we arrived Pappa put me to one of the Pensions where I was before, and I am very content with...
201John Adams to Abigail Adams, 16 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have the Honour to be lodged here with no less a Personage than the Prince of Hesse Castle Cassel , who is here upon a Visit. We occupy different Apartements in the same House and have no Intercourse with each other to be sure: but some Wags are of Opinion, that if I were authorized to open a Negotiation with him, I might obtain from him as many Troops to fight on our Side the Question, as...
202John Thaxter to Abigail Adams, 16 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
On the ninth of this Month We all happily arrived here, and with Hearts replete with Gratitude. Our Journey was long, cold, tedious and painful to an extream degree. After being fortunately delivered from a crazy and leaky Ship, We had conjectured our future Enterprises would be less irksome. Our Consolation and Triumph upon the Occasion terminated almost as soon as they existed. We had hardly...
203John Adams to Abigail Adams, 12 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
On Wednesday, the 9th. of this Month, We all arrived in tolerable Health at the Hotel De Valois, in Paris where We now are. On Thursday the 10th We waited on Dr. F ranklin and dined with him at Passy. On Fryday the 11, the Dr. accompanied Us to Versailles, where We waited on Mr. De Vergennes, Mr. De Sartine and Comte Maurepas, from all of whom We had a polite Reception. To day We stay at home....
204John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 19 January 1780 (Adams Papers)
I can never keep my pen out of my hand when ever there is an oportunity of writing and as there is one now by a Captn. Lovett I will make the best of it. I am Sorry to inform you that the Jason and Monmouth are taken and Manly for a third time is in a british prison but you very probably will have heard of this before this reaches you but what more than makes up for it is that there are 50,000...
205John Thaxter to Abigail Adams, 18 January 1780 (Adams Papers)
After twenty odd days spent in climbing Mountains, sinking into Valleys, tumbling over Rocks, pocking thro’ Mud and Mire, creeping along Plains, oversetting of Carriages &c., to the End of the Chapter of Evils, We arrived at this place. In addition to the above Combination of Evils, We had smoaky, scolding, dirty Inns to put up at. Cleanliness is a moral Virtue undoubtedly , but very little...
206John Adams to Abigail Adams, 16 January 1780 (Adams Papers)
We arrived here, last night, all alive, but all very near sick with violent Colds taken on the Road for Want of comfortable Accommodations. I was advised, on all Hands to come by Land rather than wait an uncertain Time for a passage by sea. But if I had known the Difficulties of travelling, in that part of Spain which I have passed through I think I should not have ventured upon the Journey....
207John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 16 January 1780 (Adams Papers)
I am (by the Grace of God) once more safely arrived at Bilbao. I have wrote you an account of my Voyage and why we put into Spain. I have heard Since I left Ferrol that a Child of foar years old might be put into the leak. It was well for us that we arrived as we did, one more Storm would very probably carried us to the bottom of the Sea. We arrived here yesterday at about one o’clock and...
208James Lovell to Abigail Adams, 13 January 1780 (Adams Papers)
I send you a Continuance of the Journals. The Printer having lately made a Mistake in the Course of sending me the Sheets of 1778, I was led to think he had done so before, as to that which I have written to you about already, called by him H; I therefore now put up one, as well as M.N. which I am certain were not before inclosed to you. I would have you send all forward to our Friend, unless...
209James Lovell to Abigail Adams, 6 January 1780 (Adams Papers)
You will see, lovely Woman, by the Papers which I have sent that we shall have more post Advantages of Communication than we have had for some time back; but I fear this Remark will tend to my Disadvantage, and if it was not for Oeconomy I would throw by the present Sheet and take up another in which I would only tell you that I regard, esteem and respect you and will certainly write to you as...
210Oliver Wendell to Abigail Adams, 31 December 1779 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Cranch deliver’d me your Letter with the five french Guineaus which at the Insurance Office I endeavord to hawk to the Money Voyagers. I found 30 for 1 the most they wou’d offer. Mr. Billy who has purchased much hard Money told me he had offerd him 200 hard Dollars the Day before at that Rate. I have no Doubt that 33 and 35 had been given but the late Reports of a Loan being establishd by...