101Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 12 December 1790 (Adams Papers)
I have been waiting with impatience to hear of your arrival in Philedelphia, your health was so poor that I want to know how your Journey affected you, I hope you have found an advantage from it, but the fatigues attending moving are not very pleasing to the Body or Mind. If there could be any advantage arising from it to you, there would be something to balance the trouble, but to be at such...
102John Adams to Abigail Adams, 20 January 1796 (Adams Papers)
This is one of my red Letter Days. It is the Anniversary of the Signature of the Declaration of an Armistice between The U.S. and G. Britain, in 1783.— There are Several of these Days in my Calandar, which I recollect as they pass in review, but which nobody else remembers. And indeed it is no otherwise worth my while to remember them than to render an Ejaculation of Gratitude to Providence...
103John Adams to Abigail Adams, 23 January 1796 (Adams Papers)
I have nothing to write you at this moment but Scandal, and that about one of our Connections and Acquaintances, in whose Character and Fortunes Several of our near Relations and kind Friends are deeply interested for which Reason I write in Confidence and pray that Calumny if it is such may not be propagated from me nor in my name. It is reported here in Company of senators and others of...
104John Adams to Abigail Adams, 9 November 1794 (Adams Papers)
I am now Settled.— The first night I went to a M r Alders, opposite to M r Binghams, but not liking the circumstance of living in an English Family an Upholsterer lately emigrated and not admiring the Rooms, I removed last night to Francis’s Hotel in 4 th. Street, between Market and Chesnut Streets. Here I Shall be at School with a Society of Patriotic Members of Congress who are all, virtuous...
105John Adams to Abigail Adams, 14 November 1794 (Adams Papers)
By the Post of Yesterday I received your kind Letter of the 4 th. of this month, and, by it, was relieved from a great Anxiety on Account of your health and that of Louisa. The News from the orchard is also very pleasant, I wish I could hear as good News from Hancocks Meadow. A Covering would keep it warm But I leave all to your better Judgment. No senate Yet.— M rs Morris by her son has...
106John Adams to Abigail Adams, 31 January 1793 (Adams Papers)
I have, this minute rec d your favour of the 22 d. The Report of the Presidents Resignation is probably designed to prevent the Rise of the Stocks: but the Insolence which appears every day in Baches and Freneaus Papers, proceeding from the Same Persons who are tired of abusing me, may be carried to a point that he will not bear. He has not been used to such threshing and his skin is thinner...
107John Adams to Abigail Adams, 19 January 1795 (Adams Papers)
On Saturday I Saw our sons Letter to the Secretary of State. M r Randolph expressed his intire Satisfaction in it. Said “it was a justification of the Propriety of his appointment, a Presage of his future Usefulness: and well digested, well arranged and well connected.” a handsome Compliment. In this Letter he says M r Jay had shewn him the whole Negotiation with Britain— He Speaks very...
108John Adams to Abigail Adams, 23 January 1795 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for presenting a Barrell of Flour to my Mother, and wish you to do every Thing for her Comfort, that lies in your Power. My Duty to her.— Ames is not here nor is any other Vessell bound to Boston. We shall send more Flour as soon as there is Opportunity. I am glad to hear that at length after 5 or 6 Years meditation you have made your Visit to M rs Miller and M rs Vezey. I am...
109Mercy Otis Warren to Abigail Adams, 13 November 1796 (Adams Papers)
I return my dear madam miss Williams letters with Lovuts memoirs— am much obliged & hope have not detained them too long— am sorry to hear by Your late short billet that You do not enjoy perfect health— was the stage driver under any mistake when he told me you Contemplated a passage to Plimouth in the stage ere long— I hope he was not: as such a Circumstance would be exceedingly gratifying to...
110John Adams to Abigail Adams, 7 December 1792 (Adams Papers)
I am lodged at M r Otis’s and am personally well accommodated: but I am So little pleased with living alone at any Lodgings, that this shall be the last time. You must come to me another Year or I will come to you. I am convinced if you were now here you would again be sick for the damp and chill is very penetrating. Next fall, I hope your health will be better. How the Election is gone I know...
111John Adams to Abigail Adams, 14 December 1794 (Adams Papers)
I wrote you last Week and inclosed an order for 600. Let me know when you receive it. Although the Weather is the most beautiful I ever knew in December, the Time Seems longer to me, than ever any time did in America— The Business of Congress this session is Dulness Flatness and Insipidity itself. M r Cranch went off, on Fryday for Washington as he intended to go to Anapolis, I gave him a...
112Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 1 December 1795 (Adams Papers)
I had the pleasure to write you a few lines by the Betsey Capt n: Clarke, which sailed from Rotterdam last week; another occasion now offers by the Ann. Captain Lord, the same which brought your favor of the 8 th: October to my Brother, in little more than a month. I have forwarded your letter to him. He arrived in England on the 10 th: ult o: and I hear by a letter from London of the 13 th:...
113Elizabeth Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams, 24 June 1791 (Adams Papers)
As I am exceedingly grieved when I hear of the Indisposition of any of my Friends, so am I greatly rejoiced, when I hear of their Recovery—& am much gratified at hearing of yours my Sister— When Mr Shaw went to Boston we did not know of your arrival at Braintree—& since that, the Circumstances of the Parish, & Family would not admit of our leaving Home— I hope soon to have the pleasure of...
114Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody to Abigail Adams, 23 July 1796 (Adams Papers)
Your kind invitations would have induced Mr Peabody to have visited you at Quincy had it not now been in the midst of making hay, & the expectation he has of finding his Son in Boston, & taking him home with him in the Chaise— He thinks it will be making a toil of what he should esteem a pleasure, for he could not get back with any comfort a commencement week— If I am well we hope to make you...
115Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 3 November 1793 (Adams Papers)
Since my Brother informed me of the miscarriage of some of my letters, I am determined to suffer no Post to pass without writing to some of the Family. The Fever in Philadelphia is a never failing source of subject-matter, when every other is exhausted, but it gives me real joy that I have it in my power to assure you from the best Authority, that no danger is to be apprehended from returning...
116John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 14 December 1790 (Adams Papers)
I have just returned from the Post-Office, where I was in hopes of finding Letters from Philadelphia, but found myself disappointed. I wrote you almost a month ago by a private hand, (M r: Gray) and I hope you received my Letter in Season. I have since thought that some of the expressions in it, upon a subject which principally concerns myself might rather tend to increase your alarm than to...
117John Adams to Abigail Adams, 22 April 1794 (Adams Papers)
I rec d. Yesterday your kind favour of the 11 th. I have not been able lately to write you so much as I wished. The President has appointed M r Jay to go to England as Envoy Extraordinary, in hopes that Satisfaction may be obtained for the Injuries done us in the Capture of our Vessells. I have no very Sanguine hopes of his Success, but if any Man can Succeed I presume he is as likely as any....
118Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 24 November 1793 (Adams Papers)
I have now been in the City since the 19 th: and am happily able to give you the fullest assurance of our freedom from danger, on account of the malignant Fever. The Citizens have most of them returned, & universally in good health, business has revived, & is fast returning into its former train; from all present appearances, nobody would think that any Calamity had befallen us. It is...
119John Adams to Abigail Adams, 14 January 1794 (Adams Papers)
I had Yesterday the Pleasure of yours of January 5. I will Send, to M r Adams a Check upon the Branch Bank for two hundred Dollars as soon as I can get Thomas to transact the Business for me. I am glad to find that you have had Applications for the Farms— I wish you to hear them all and enquire their Characters and Circumstances We are all of Us here, very much concerned for Cheesman. he has...
120John Adams to Abigail Adams, 1 January 1797 (Adams Papers)
I wish the new Year may be the happiest of your Life. Last Night I had a Visit from D r Rush, whose Tongue ran for an hour.— So many Compliments, so many old Anecdotes. To be Sure, My Election he Said, he had vast pleasure in assuring me Since it had been made certain had given vast Satisfaction in this City and State. Even those who had voted for another had a great Affection for me. M r...
121John Adams to Abigail Adams, 26 January 1796 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday I came to Senate as usual on a monday morning pleasing my Imagination and my heart with the hope and Expectation of a Letter from—my dearest Friend. No Letter for The Vice President Says Mathers! All Day in bad humour—dirty Weather—wet walking—nothing good—nothing right. The poor Post Offices did not escape—it was some blunder—some carlessness of theirs—in Philadelphia—New York or...
122John Adams to Abigail Adams, 9 January 1797 (Adams Papers)
I received to day, together, your Favours of the 31 st December 1796 and 1. Jan. 1797 Our H. of R. boasts that We are the most enlightened People in the World: but We behave like the most ignorant Babies, in a thousand Instances. We have been destroying all Terror of Crimes and are becoming the Victims of them. We have been destroying all Attachment and Obligation to Country and are Sold in...
123Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 8 April 1792 (Adams Papers)
I last Week receiv’d your Letter of the 20th & 21 d of March with cousin Louisias giving me an account of your sickness If I had receiv’d hers first I should have been distress’d indeed. but I had not a hint of your Illness till I receiv’d those Letters When you wrote before you told me you felt an attack of your intermiting Fever I have been anxious ever since. I dare not indulge my fears I...
124John Adams to Abigail Adams, 11 November 1794 (Adams Papers)
Since the Certainty has arrived of the very honourable Reelection of our Friend M r Smith of S. Carolina, the wiser Part of the Community have been the more anxious for that of M r Ames. The Orrery from Boston, which arrived Yesterday has excited great Expectations, that the District in which Boston is placed, will not disgrace itself by disgracing Sound Principles and independent Conduct in...
125John Adams to Abigail Adams, 17 November 1794 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday I attended the Dedication of a Temple. The Presbyterian Congregation in Market Street, have taken down their old Meeting House, and erected a new one, in the Same Place, much larger higher, more light, airy and elegant. They assembled in it for the first time, Yesterday, when D r Ewing preached in the Morning and D r Blair in the Afternoon. I recollected with Pleasure upon this...
126Martha Washington to Abigail Adams, 8 December 1789 (Adams Papers)
M rs. Washington presents her best compliments to M rs. Adams, and will thank her to say at what hour it will be agreeable to visit M rs. Graham’s School tomorrow morning.— M rs. Washington encloses M rs. Graham’s note, by which M rs. Adams may see the time that will be most convenient for M rs. Graham.— M rs. Washington will be happy to hear that M rs.
127John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 24 April 1796 (Adams Papers)
You will find by the papers that I send with this letter, what you will perhaps know before the receipt of it; that is that the negotiations for Peace have stumbled at the threshold, and that a trial of one more year of War is to be endured by the contending Nations. The Notes of M r: Wickham & M r: Barthelemi are considered as decisive upon this point.— The scarcity of provisions has suddenly...
128Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 9 August 1790 (Adams Papers)
It is so long since I have heard from you that I begin to be very uneasy I am the more so as I know it is about the time for mrs Smith to be confin’d & you did not give me the most favourable account of her health in your last letter. you I know feel all the anxeity of a tender mother for her but I hope to hear soon that She has presented you with a fine Grandaughter— my little Richard grows...
129John Adams to Abigail Adams, 3 February 1793 (Adams Papers)
General Lincoln setts out Tomorrow, and I should not dare to let him go without a Love Letter to you. After a November December and January the fairest softest and finest that ever were known in this Place, The Month of February has been ushered in by a considerable Snow: but the Weather is again so fine that the sun will soon restore Us the naked ground: I should like it better in its White...
130John Adams to Abigail Adams, 20 January 1795 (Adams Papers)
I rec d your favour of the 9 th. Yesterday. The Weather is now extream Cold. The River is frozen and a snow covers the Ground. If the Season is as sharp and at the Same time so fine with you, it will present a good Opportunity to cross the Mill Pond. It was judicious Advice and a prudent determination to cutt your Wood this Winter from the Mountain: and I hope you will pursue your Plan of...
131John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 29 August 1790 (Adams Papers)
I received by M rs: Atkinson your favour of the 20 th: inst t: which has added not a little to the weight of anxiety which, before hung heavy upon my mind. The Suspense in which I must continue, I know not how long with respect to my own prospects, has at present a constant operation to depress Spirits not naturally very lively; but when my solicitude for the welfare and happiness of my Sister...
132John Adams to Abigail Adams, 27 January 1795 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday I had your favour of 16. M r Osgoods sermon has been printed here. I have heard M r Gardiner, hinted at as the Writer of the Jacobiniad— some think M r Paine himself writes it. I am sorry for M r Cleverlys Mortification and think the Cause of it might have been avoided. I am Still afraid I shall not be able to get away, so soon as I once hoped.— I will Spend as much time as I can...
133John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 8 February 1797 (Adams Papers)
Though not many days have elapsed since I wrote you last, and I scarcely know what I can write for your amusement, I cannot omit the acknowledgment of having recently received your kind Letter, dated November. 11. which besides the pleasure which your Letters always afford, had the additional merit of relieving me from great anxiety on account of your health. The address of the President...
134John Adams to Abigail Adams, 9 February 1797 (Adams Papers)
The Die is cast, and you must prepare yourself for honourable Tryals. I must wait to know whether Congress will do any Thing or not to furnish my House— if they do not I will have no House before next Fall. and then a very moderate one, with very moderate Furniture. The Prisoners from Algiers arrived Yesterday in this City, in good health and looking very well. Capt n. stevens is among them....
135John Adams to Abigail Adams, 8 December 1792 (Adams Papers)
D r Blair has resigned and D r Green is our Chaplain, but Miss Blair is married to M r Roberdeau the Bearer of this Letter, son of my old Friend the General. There is an universal and respectful Inquiry after you and your health, and as general a respect and Attention shewn to me. The Savages who shoot from the Swamps and thickets, from the Brakes and Briars from the Mud and Dirt, are all...
136Martha Washington to Abigail Adams, 30 May 1791 (Adams Papers)
I had the pleasure to hear of you several times while you was on your journey by persons who met you—particulary by M r & M rs Breck and M r & M rs Codman of Boston who are now in this city— I was truly sorry to learn from them that you were much indisposed— I sincerely hope you will obtain a re establishment of your health by breathing the air of your country which is esteemed so salubrious—...
137Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 5–6 July 1789 (Adams Papers)
I promiss’d to write you by the Post when your Furniture Sail’d but Doctor Tufts Said he had done it— I hope you have it safe & that it has been more fortunate than in its last voyage— I heard you did not leave Providence till the monday after you left us. I want to hear of your arrival reception &c—how you found mr Adams mrs Smith & her little ones—whether she will continue in the House with...
138Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 30 July 1789 (Adams Papers)
I can never Sufficiently express my thanks or my gratitude for your last kind & affectionate Letter & you must not laugh at me nor chide me when I tell you that I sat & weept over it as if it had brought me some evil tydings I felt the full force of that maxim of Solomons “It is more blessed to give than to receive” But my dear Sister you must forgive me if I tell you I cannot accept your...
139John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 25 July 1796 (Adams Papers)
Your letters of May 20. and 25. have both reached me forwarded from London. The latter was brought by M r: Gore, who sent me at the same time the speech of M r: Ames which one of your letters mentions in terms of applause which I think it well deserves. After the apprehensions and anxiety, which the preceding accounts from America had excited, I was not a little gratified at the intelligence...
140Thomas Brand Hollis to Abigail Adams, 20 December 1790 (Adams Papers)
A sincere desire to hear of your welfare prompted me to write that I might have the pleasure to know from yourself, that you retained the memory of a sincere friend who has an affectionate regard for your self & family & desires the welfare of your country; being above the contracted Idea of an Insulaire who is unwilling any should enjoy Liberty but the Inhabitants of his own Island. The love...
141John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 25 April 1795 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of Nov r: 26. Was not quite five months in reaching me. I received it about a week since, and as the first direct communication from you, since we sailed it was peculiarly acceptable, though it had been so long on the way. You have received before this time I presume, my letter of Feb y: 12. at least you are informed of the great changes which have taken place in the Government of...
142John Adams to Abigail Adams, 7 March 1796 (Adams Papers)
I have made the necessary Inquiry concerning Seeds And have found the Price so extravagant that I have concluded it imprudent to purchase any for Capt n Beal, D r Welsh M r Dexter D r Tufts or myself. And I desire you to purchase or request D r Tufts to purchase for me one hundred and twenty Pounds of Clover Seed. The Second Crop of Clover, from which alone they thresh the Seeds in...
143Abigail Adams Smith to Abigail Adams, 30 December 1790 (Adams Papers)
I have this moment received your Letter of the 26 th and having a Leasure moment I embrace it to reply to it— it seems to renew my spirits to get a Letter from you—and they very frequently require the aid of such incidents as arrise from Communicated friendship to keep them up—for I find it very solitary— I have no inclination to go out, and except to M rs King I have not made any visits out...
144Elizabeth Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams, 2 May 1789 (Adams Papers)
By the News Papers, I find you have met with a temporary Loss—The United suffrages of my countrymen have once more taken my Brother Adams from you —from rural retirement—& the sweets of domestic Life, & again placed him in the political Hemisphere, where his merit—his knowledge—his patriotism—his virtue, will (I presume) shine with conspicuous Lustre, though surrounded by a multitude of bright...
145John Adams to Abigail Adams, 22 January 1794 (Adams Papers)
I am weary of this Scæne of Dulness. We have done nothing and Shall do nothing this Session, which ought to be done, unless We Should appropriate a Sufficient Sum of Money, for treating with the Algerines. We are afraid to go to War, though our Inclinations and Dispositions are Strong enough to join the French Republicans. It is happy that our Fears are a Check to our Resentments: and our...
146John Adams to Abigail Adams, 19 December 1794 (Adams Papers)
I promised you in my last an Account of the Commencement in the Methodists Meetinghouse north fourth st. near Vine street. But as a Bill which had some Allusion to the late Rebellion, and consequently interested the feelings of Parties, came on in Senate I could not get out of my Chair till three O Clock, and was therefore disappointed. I sent at once and bought the Books: but as I have made a...
147John Adams to Abigail Adams, 5 January 1797 (Adams Papers)
M rs Swan and her Daughters, conducted by M rs Otis came into the Senate Chamber this morning to see the Room and Pictures. There I had Opportunities to see for the first time the fair young Ladies. I send you Guillotina, the most wanton Muse of the whole ten.— dreadful Truths are told in jest— Dallas tho, innocent , Dallas is much injured. I have now rec d Votes from Kentucky the last state:...
148Charles Adams to Abigail Adams, 31 January 1796 (Adams Papers)
My Sister informs me that you have not lately heard from your sons in Holland and that you were anxious respecting them. I am happy to have it in my power to relieve your mind and to relate the cause of your not receiving intelligence from them. I have within these six weeks received a half a dozen letters from them some of a date as late as the 7 th of October They are in good health and...
149Charles Adams to Abigail Adams, 22 April 1792 (Adams Papers)
The pamphlet you have been so kind as to send me has met with much approbation here. The boldness of the diction receives accumulated vigor from the too serious truths which it conveys. I think however something better might have been written upon those subjects. There is most certainly too much local partiality in the administration of our Government. People in this part of the world begin to...
150Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 14 May 1792 (Adams Papers)
I received your kind letter of the 6 th: this Evening, and feel happy that you advanced so far on your Journey, without receiving any injury. I was somewhat anxious for your health, but the favorable account you give, has relieved me in a measure from the apprehension. I hope you may enjoy it much more this Summer than the last. The directions left with me respecting M r: Harrison, are...