1921From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 30 November 1812 (Adams Papers)
your Letters of April 30th of May 28th of June 27th a duplicate, So faint a press coppy that but little of it could be read, and your originals of July 8th and August 10th have all safely arrived, the two last upon the 19th of this Month with Letters to your Father, of nearly the Same date, but which I find he has not acknowledged in his Letter to you of this Day. your last Letters gave us...
1922From Abigail Smith Adams to Caroline Amelia Smith De Windt, 21 June 1816 (Adams Papers)
It was with a heavy heart and trembling hand, that I yesterday broke the seal of your letter to your uncle. I knew that he was gone to Boston, and as I had not any letter myself, I could not wait in such suspense; the contents of the letter has left me little expectation of hearing that the lamp of life is not nearly extinguished. I had written thus far, when Louisa brought me the paper, with...
1923From Abigail Smith Adams to Sarah Smith Adams, 5 May 1817 (Adams Papers)
The account of your Health and your debility gives me much concern. the frequent bleedings your Physician thinks Proper for you, quite allarms me. I am sure Louisa could not have Survived, if any blood had been taken from her. for more than a month, She could not rise from her Bed: to Sit while it was made, without fainting, and looking as if she could not be yet back alive. She has now So far...
1924From Abigail Smith Adams to E. Miller, 15 August 1812 (Adams Papers)
Will you permit Listen to a Friend to your Reputation to your rising prospects, to your rising prospects, to your future pursuits and to the happiness of your family to tender you some advice, nor deem it an intrusion? It is a Subject of much delicacy which I scarcely know how to begin yet such is the partiality I have entertained for you from the amiableness of your manners and the good...
1925From Abigail Smith Adams to Lucy Cranch Greenleaf, 17 August 1813 (Adams Papers)
My dear Daughter Survived but a few hours after you left us—She lay much in the Same State untill twelve oclock when after a few Struggles her Spirit was releasd to join those of your dear Parents and many others of the just made perfect—whilst I mourn for her I bless God, that her Sufferings were not greater, and pray for divine Support MWA .
1926From Abigail Smith Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 15 March 1817 (Adams Papers)
I received your very kind Letter, in which you take so great interest in my health, that I am bound to say much of myself in return; for I have profited by your admonitions and those of my other Friends.In the first place, I indulge myself in the morning, and seldom rise before the sun I use no more exercise than I think my health requires—altho I frequently hear, o do not go there, do not do...
1927From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 28 January 1818 (Adams Papers)
Mrs Cushing came last fryday to make me a visit, so that I have not been able to write a line She left me to day about noon, when I received a note from You with Carolines and mr Lymans Letter. it took us Some time and trouble to decypher it, but finally we made out to read & reread it. The president thinks it the best and most accurate account of the State of Literature & the Learned...
1928From Abigail Smith Adams to Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody, 21 August 1812 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed are two Letters for you & family or to Speak more correctly one for you, and one for Mrs Cranch— I was anxious to hear from you, as I had heard of Nortens Sickness. he has a Billious constitution, and Slender health. I hope it will become firmer. we have indeed so wet a season that the fruits of the Earth are decaying for lack of Sun Shine. let us acknowledge our intire dependence...
1929From Abigail Smith Adams to Sarah Smith Adams, 20 March 1817 (Adams Papers)
I received your letter of Feb’ry 19th inst, was rejoiced to find you writing again. It was my intention Sooner to have replied to you, but your own experience under Similar Circumstances will allow for my omission, when I inform you that Louisa was Suddenly seizd with bleading, like that which has twice attackd you, and this from being a large vessel in the Stomack, was so profuse, as to...
1930From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 17 February 1812 (Adams Papers)
There are two vessels up, one for St Petersburgh & one for Gottenburgh. by both of which I propose to write. My last Letter was dated in Jan’ry No 1, and the last received, from you then, was of Sepb’r but yesterday Commodore Bainbridge arrived, and forwarded your Letters of October 2d a press coppy of No 25 not yet arrived, and an original of october, 24 & 25—No 26—your Father will write, and...
1931From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 13 January 1816 (Adams Papers)
I write again. I am yet among the Living, of which last Monday morning I had no expectation, but thanks to a kind providence I am yet Spaired for Something, and may I be finally found with the wise virgins, my Lamp trimmed. The Severe Snow Storm of yesterday has so Blockaded, the Roads that I know not when they will be passable—no opportunity of sending you Carolines Letter to day, or Letters...
1932From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 27 February 1807 (Adams Papers)
I fully designd writing to you so that my Letter should have reachd you at Washington, but ten days of very severe sickness has prevented me from holding a pen, and now I do it against many expostulations. I duly received your two kind Letters, and thank you for them. Mrs Adams Caroline and the two Boys made me a very pleasent visit of a fortnight. I enjoyd their society in my usual health,...
1933From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 9 May 1815 (Adams Papers)
I wait this mornings post with much anxiety a report yesterday reachd us, that mr Dexter died at Troy this week by an aploplexy—if true the papers will this morning inform us, to our great grief and mourning— Henry Marston who took the Letters to you, said he would deliver the Letters in the morning. he is usually punctual to his word—I inclose you one since received which you will return on...
1934From Abigail Smith Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 8 August 1816 (Adams Papers)
I have received your kind Letter of June the 7th, tho not by Mrs Perkins, for she has not yet arrived—I thank you for the information which it afforded me. your Letters are a treat from which I derive pleasure uncloyed—I can return you only the passing scenes of domestic and rural Life, interesting only for their connection with the Family Circle.— Two of your Neices, and my Granddaughters,...
1935From Abigail Smith Adams to Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody, 13 September 1814 (Adams Papers)
True my dear Sister, “our Sweetest comforts have their alloy” my dear Caroline left me yesterday. no former separation from her equaled this. upon former occasions she was not the principle, and I looked forward to times, when she would be again with me as a resident; now I have relinquished her, and given her to an amiable Man, who will know her value; and strive I trust, to make her happy,...
1936From Abigail Smith Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 14 December 1811 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your kind inquiries after my Daughter Smith. She is, and has been as well, the Physicians Say, as any one could expect, after Such an Operation, as She has endured—to me it was agonizing—She Sustaind it with firmness, and fortitude The wound has been intirely healed for this month, but the mussels from the Arm, which communicate with the part affected, were necessarily laid So...
1937From Abigail Smith Adams to Caroline Amelia Smith De Windt, 21 February 1813 (Adams Papers)
delightfull praise! like summer Rose that brighter in the dew drop glows— they were Sweet Drops from the heart to the Eyes both of your grandfather & grandmother when I read to him the two Letters to your Father and uncle this day in praise of your Mother. you could not have offerd a Sweeter incence to your Grandfather— to know that flowing from the hand of Friendship in a Strain of Sincerity...
1938From Abigail Smith Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 14 September 1814 (Adams Papers)
Received Quincy September 14th: 1814 of Thomas B Adams Esqr: Twenty-one Dollars and eighty seven Cents, for one quarter’s interest due on JQ Adams’s note due August 1st:— $21.87 MHi : Adams Papers.
1939From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 24 July 1811 (Adams Papers)
I write to you, altho it is really with the hope that you may not receive my Letter. I would fain believe that you will be upon Your passage Home long before this can arrive in St Petersburgh, but as there is a possibility that you may Yet be there, I would not omit informing you of the health of your parents and Children, nor of their anxious desire to see you again Safe in your Native...
1940From Abigail Smith Adams to James Madison, 1 August 1810 (Adams Papers)
I take the Liberty of addressing you in behalf of my Son, now at St Petersburgh, and to ask of you, permission for his return to his native Country. I hope you may have already received, through the Secretary of State, his own request to this effect. From Several Letters which I have received from Mrs Adams, I have been led to think their Situation very unpleasent, as it respected their...
1941From Abigail Smith Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 2 September 1815 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of July 9th was joyfully received by me, it was not untill your Letter arrived, that I had any certain knowledge where you were, altho I had presumed from mr Adams Letter of 19 March from Paris, that you might have reachd there, the day after your Sister Smith left it. It grieves me to Say to you, that she has, had a Severe trial and affliction since she arrived in America, in the...
1942From Abigail Smith Adams to William Smith Shaw, 26 October 1813 (Adams Papers)
Mr Cutter is very desirious that you and any person we may agree upon Should go to medford and take a survey of the Barn and agree to build one, either by contract or as would be best, by employing Cutter to undertake it. I have agreed with Mr Foster to go up in my behalf, when ever it will be convenient for you to accompany him. Cutter should be informd when—the size and dimensions of the...
1943From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 10 May 1812 (Adams Papers)
Mr Shaw sent me word yesterday, that a Gentleman of his acquaintance was going to Archangel, and would take a Letter to you, a voyage in the present precarious State of navigation is almost as visionary as that of Gonzales to the moon. I will not however omit writing to you, altho at a time, when a three months Embargo, and Mad Emperors and Kings, prevent all regular communications, this...
1944From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 25 March 1816 (Adams Papers)
I received your note this morning and wish you had known that mr Shaw came out last Evening alone. I looked & looked at noon for him with Some Friend, but they did not come. I asked him why he did not bring you. he said he came of suddenly— The P. never found mr Lymans Note to you untill this moning or he would sooner have commissoned you to thank mr Lyman and Say that he did not think any one...
1945From Abigail Smith Adams to Hannah Phillips Cushing, 15 May 1814 (Adams Papers)
I really was much rejoyed to See once again your hand writing. While I feelingly Sympathize with you, in the weakness of your Eyes, which deprives your Friends, of one of there greatest enjoyments, a Friendly Epistolary intercourse with you. I have sufferd much these Six months, from a Similar cause, altho mine is not a Constant complaint. it must be an increasing one with years I had a Severe...
1946From Abigail Smith Adams to Julia Stockton Rush, 24 April 1813 (Adams Papers)
how shall I address you. how offer the consolation I need for myself upon an occasion which has torn my heart with anguish, filld my Bosom with Greif, and so overwhelmd me by the magnitude of the Bereavement, that I cannot utter my feelings The Stroke was so unexpected to me who had calculated upon going myself to the world of Spirits before him, and that he would be the Friend, to administer...
1947From Abigail Smith Adams to Richard Rush, 28 October 1816 (Adams Papers)
Your former kindness, and your known benevolence encourages me to again solicit your aid Mr Clark, to whom I gave a Letter of introduction to you, not long since, and for whom you once before interested yourself, is very desirious of engageing in some active employ more congenial to his feelings, than doing Duty on Board a ship in port. With the consent of Commodore Bainbridge, he last week...
1948From Abigail Smith Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 18 February 1811 (Adams Papers)
I hope the afflicting intelligence which you must receive from your Friends at Washington, will not be too suddenly burst upon you, but that your best Friend may have been intrusted with it, that he may prepare your mind for the heavey tydings. I know that mrs Hellen was a dear and favorite sister to you all, and well deserving of your attachment. The circumstances which deprived you of her,...
1949From Abigail Smith Adams to Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody, 10 April 1815 (Adams Papers)
I am going to ask you a curious question Nothing less, than the Name of the Gentleman who visited us on Saturday week? he was accompanied by a Mr Channing of coneticut whom I knew—and introduced to me by name, but So indistincly, that I could not discover his Name; he informd me that he had been at your House the week before; Spoke of mr Peabody, and you, as old acquaintanc inquired...
1950From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 29 June 1816 (Adams Papers)
If I write you ten Letters, to one from you, Still I Should be your debtor, for one of yours is worth ten of mine, and one over— yet in Love, and affection, the account Shall be balanced—I Shall always recollect with a pleasure, which I cannot describe, the Sensation I felt, when mr Woodard returnd from Russia and came to see me. I know well his Father, and Family, but him I had never Seen...