1To John Adams from Richard Cranch, 13 October 1785 (Adams Papers)
...large Manufactories, would soon have furnished us in a great measure with the necessary Cloathing in both kinds. But the Flood of English Goods that came in upon us at the Peace, soon stopt the Spinning-Wheel the Loom and the fulling-Mill, which at the Close of the War were so fully employ’d. The great Scarcity of Money occasioned by the large Exportations of Gold and Silver to England,...
2To John Adams from Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 11 February 1819 to 26 February 1819 (Adams Papers)
...thence to H of R. where we were entertained with a very different style of Oratory, which I denominate the hum-drum; as it produced on my ear something like the effect of a Cotton spinning wheel, which is not dull enough to set you to sleep, tho’ sufficiently monotonous to weary your spirits—It was an appropriation bill, and the orator speaking against it—one of the members informed me...