201Abigail Adams to John Adams, 1 April 1796 (Adams Papers)
I yesterday received Yours of March 19 & 23 d inclosing the Letter from our son, compareing Such events as have taken place in Europe, with the Spirit, and Temper of the Parties in America, and the evident disposition of foreign Powers towards the united States. I believe our Son will prove to be possesst of the Spirit, calld Prophesy which it has been said, was the property of his Father. in...
202Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 28 April 1790 (Adams Papers)
I designd to have written to you by the Monday Post, but I was so very ill on Sunday that I could not set up. I have had the severest attack of the Rhumatism attended with a voilent fever which I have experienced for several years. I have not yet left my chamber, tho I am much releived. the weather has been uncommonly wet and cold, Snow we have had in the course of this fortnight more than...
203Abigail Adams to John Adams, 2 January 1793 (Adams Papers)
our son brought me your favour of the 19 december on sunday last, by which I find that the same Ideas have past through both our minds on a late Election amidst all that has been written upon the occasion, no one has ventured to state the comparative merrits, and services of the Candidates, but have contented themselves with saying that they would not bear a comparison, that clintons were...
204Abigail Adams to John Adams, 28 January 1797 (Adams Papers)
I received by the post on thursday the whole Mail containing your Letters of the 5 th 9 th 11 th 14 & 16 th I began to be very impatient at rude Boreas for laying an Embargo upon that intercourse which alone mitigated the pain and anxiety of Seperation. Gen ll Lincoln had call’d upon me the beginning of the week and informd me that you was well. the steady cold weather has been more favourable...
205Abigail Adams to John Quincy Adams, [ca. 28 September 1795] (Adams Papers)
Mr J Quincy calld upon me Yesterday to let me know that a vessel of mr Higginsons was going to Amsterdam. I wrote by Way of Hamburgh both to you and your Brother about ten Days since. I have not much to say at present, because I dare not say much least some characters which are now criminated might be injured, when we would wish to find them Innocent. Time must Develope. the sudden Resignation...
206Abigail Adams to John Adams, 1 March 1797 (Adams Papers)
This is the first Day of March, and I have no Letters from you of a later date than the 11 th of Feb’ ry. and then only a few lines. Several things which I have written to upon, and which I wish for directions before I proceeded to execute, are I suppose lost and forgotten by upon, in the Multitude of Your Thoughts. I must proceed with the advise of D r Tufts, for whom I have this day sent, in...
207Abigail Adams to Cotton Tufts, 18 December 1791 (Adams Papers)
Tis more than two months since I left you yet I have neither written a word to you or heard from you. Since I left Home, I have been much occupied removeing, and living in the city subjects us to company at all times, so much so that I must either be denying myself through the whole day, or appoint one evening in the week as a publick Evening. this I have found to be the most agreeable to...
208Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 1 November 1789 (Adams Papers)
A strange phenomanan has happend in our Family. I believe I wrote you that Louissa and John were both innoculated for the small pox but neither of their arms shew’d any proofs after the 2d Day. Louissa was soon seizd with the cold & Fever which has so universally prevaild here. upon the 10 day John was very sick apparantly the symptoms of the small pox, but they lasted only one day on the 17...
209Abigail Adams to John Adams, 4 April 1796 (Adams Papers)
I see by the papers brought by last nights Mail that the Question on Livingstones Motion was carried by a great Magority. this May truly be calld a scramble after power. what is to come next? dare they touch the Treaty with unhallowd Hands? Giles seems all at once to have fallen in Love with Checks, and rings as many changes with them, as has been asscribed to the Author of the Defence. I have...
210Abigail Adams to John Adams, 10 April 1796 (Adams Papers)
It is with real Sorrow that I have to acquaint You with the Death of so valuable a Man as Hon’ ble T Russel. The Town of Boston could not in the Death of any other of its citizens have Sustaind So heavey a loss. considerd in every Character which he sustaind, and in every Relation in which he stood, his loss is greatly to be regreeted, and what to him was always a source of affliction, and to...
211Abigail Adams to Cotton Tufts, 30 May 1790 (Adams Papers)
I received your kind Letter of May last week I was very sorry to hear that you and your Family had not escaped the prevailing sickness. the disorder has universally prevaild here. not a single one of our Family, except mr Adams has escaped, and Polly, it was very near proving fatal too. We Have been in very great anxiety for the Pressident. during the state of Suspence, it was thought prudent...
212Abigail Adams to John Adams, ca. 20 February 1794 (Adams Papers)
The post of the last saturday was the first for a long period, which faild of bringing me a Letter from you. I should have been more anxious but that I received one from you on the wedensday preceeding: you say so many handsome things to me respecting my Letters that you ought to fear making me vain. since however we may appreciate the enconiums of the world, the praises of those whom we Love,...
213Abigail Adams to John Adams, 22 February 1796 (Adams Papers)
Mr Quincy and Mr Copley made me a visit this afternoon. mr Copley arrived from England about 2 Months Since and is going to spend a year in America. he is the only son of our Friend. I believe you may recollect him. he talk of visiting Philadelphia. if he does I shall give him a Letter to you. mr Quincy seems much pleas’d with his Tour, and Speaks with much gratitude of the kindness and...
214Abigail Adams to John Adams, 29 January 1797 (Adams Papers)
Yes My Dear Friend I had seen and read the Tenth Muse, and I think she abuses our poor old Govenour who tho quite in his Dotage, is not the Man there represented I do not think him a Hypocrit, but a real Lover and Friend of Religion from pure Principles. He has served his Country many Years with honour and with fidelity. I respect his Virtues, tho I pitty his weakness. it is said that he means...
215Abigail Adams to John Quincy Adams, 8 October 1795 (Adams Papers)
I hear of a vessel going to Amsterdam, and tho I presume you are not in Holland, I shall write a few lines just to let you know that we are all well, and that your Letters by capt Trevett, who saild from Roterdam arrived safe and the Books, but the Bracelets you mention intending to send by it, I have not any tydings of. it would have been fortunate if you had given them to the Captain, as...
216Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 25 October 1790 (Adams Papers)
After I had closed my Letter to you this day fortnight, I retired to my chamber, and was taken with a shaking fit which held me 2 Hours and was succeeded by a fever which lasted till near morning, attended with severe pain in my Head Back &c the next morning I took an Emetick which operated very kindly and proved to me the necessity of it. on tuesday I felt better and went below stairs, but...
217Abigail Adams to John Adams, 11 April 1794 (Adams Papers)
You I presume are so much occupied and fatigued with the duties of your station that you can get but little leisure to write, for of late I have received only a few lines at a Time from you; I hope we may not be driven into a War but the present & past conduct of Great Brittain has been such that want of power and ability, are our greatest Security to ourselves and not the Humane Principal of...
218Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 5 January 1790 (Adams Papers)
I begin my Letter with the congratulations of the season, to you and all my other Friends & for many happy returns in Succeeding years. the New years day in this State, & particularly in this city is celebrated with every mark of pleasure and satisfaction. the shops and publick offices are Shut, there is not any market upon this day, but every person laying aside Buisness devote the day to the...
219Abigail Adams to John Adams, 3 January 1796 (Adams Papers)
I will try to write tho it is with much difficulty I hold My pen, oweing to a very painfull Soar which gatherd at the Root of one of My nails on My Right Hand. it has been so painfull as to allarm me for several Days least it Must be opend to the Bone, and to deprive me of rest. it has begun to discharge, & tho yet painfull, is less so since. I have not been free from my old Rhuemactick...
220Abigail Adams to John Adams, 25 December 1796 (Adams Papers)
Was it ever colder in this Country. the glasses have fallen much below 0, tho a bright sunshine on fryday and saturday. many people froze their feet hands and Ears. I really compasionate you that you must Sleep alone. not one Day here since the 23 of Nov br in which it has thaw’d so as to Drop from the houses. the snow is very level and near a foot deep. our people are getting wood home....
221Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 5 February 1792 (Adams Papers)
I received your kind Letter of dec br and sincerely congratulate you and my Neice upon the Birth of a son, tho I could have wishd it had been a daughter. I have had the pleasure of having mrs smith and William on a visit to me for 5 weeks. the col has been part of the time here & Charles spent a fortnight with me. they expect to leave me in a week or ten days. this would be but a small matter...
222Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 25 June 1795 (Adams Papers)
I yesterday received your Letter giving me an account of the distressd Situation of Sister Smith. I fear her disorder will terminate in a setled distraction Burrel Shall have the Room & bed Room for Mrs Smith at 12 Dollors a Year, but he shall have them only for her that is he shall not consider himself at Liberty to let them to any one else if she should not continue with him. I mention this...
223Abigail Adams to John Adams, 7 January 1793 (Adams Papers)
I received your Letter by mr Roberdeau who with our son and young mr Quincy came out and dinned with me to day. I was pleased to see a son of your old Friend and acquaintance for whom you have so often expresd a Regard; as well as the agreeable Husband of miss Blair that was; we had much conversation about my acquaintances in Philadelphia, many of whom he could give me a particular account of....
224Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 4 July 1790 (Adams Papers)
A Memorable day in our calender a Church beloning to the dutch congregation is this day to be opened and an oration deliverd. this Church was the scene of misiry & horrour, the Prison where our poor Countrymen were confined, crowded & starved during the War, & which the British afterwards destroyed. it has lately been rebuilt and this day is the first time that they have met in it. they have...
225Abigail Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 10 January 1795 (Adams Papers)
Should a vessel cross the Atlantick, and my dear Thomas not find a few lines from his Mother, I know he would feel sadly dissapointed, yet not a Solitary Scrip, has reachd her yet, to assure her, of his, or his Brothers Safety. The arrival of the vessel has been confirmd by a Letter, received in Boston, in replie to one which went in the Alfred, so that my anxiety respecting the Ship was...
226Abigail Adams to John Adams, [28] February 1796 (Adams Papers)
Thursday is My Red Letter Day. then I usually get your favours, and a package of papers. the last thursday was particularly so. I received yours of the 10 13 15 & 17 th of Feb ry , and two Letters from our Dear Sons one dated Helveotsluice Nov br 7 th from the Minister, the other of the 9 th from the Hague. the wind had been contrary for near three weeks, and he poor fellow cooped up in a...
227Abigail Adams to Thomas Welsh, 15 November 1792 (Adams Papers)
I inclose to you a memorandum which I received from Mrs Smith, the Receit given you for the Money I have received and will forward in a Letter to mrs Copley but at the same time I wish to know how she is to come at the money lodged in the Bank. perhaps mrs Gray has taken measures for that, but as I feel myself in some degree responsible to mrs Copley I wish when I write to her & state the...
228Abigail Adams to Cotton Tufts, 11 March 1791 (Adams Papers)
I received your kind Letter of the 23 Feb ry and was happy to learn that our Friends were all well. my son Set of on his return to Boston last week, in company with mr Gerry & Ames. he was desirious of going then that he might have the pleasure of good company. this tho a very agreeable circumstance on a long journey, will I believe scarcly compensate for the badness of the Roads at this...
229Abigail Adams to John Adams, 12 December 1794 (Adams Papers)
If I had waited patiently for the post of Thursday Noon, I need not have had so much anxiety, but I had Sent on Wednesday to the office, and received my papers, & word that there were no Letters, so not having been very well myself, my Imagination conjured up that you were not only sick, but very sick, or you would not let two posts pass without writing. I was relieved by your Letters of...
230Abigail Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 10 June 1796 (Adams Papers)
A Neighbour of ours Captain Richard Beal is going this week to sail for England, and I do not know a more direct conveyance to you. the Communication between America and Holland is not half so frequent, as with England. The last Letter which I had the pleasure to receive from you, was dated the 1 of December. Your Father has received two from you of a latter Date, but none Since December. From...
231Abigail Adams to Cotton Tufts, 17 January 1790 (Adams Papers)
I think our dear state makes full use of the liberty of the press, but they who write for the benefit of mankind whether learned or unlearned will always find more utility in reasoning than writing; I am led to these observations by several pieces, some in Edes paper, that fountain of Sedition, and a piece in Adams paper signed “a New England man.” This same writer and many others will find...
232Abigail Adams to John Adams, 10 January 1796 (Adams Papers)
I received by the last post Your Letters of the following Dates 21 inclosing the post Note, 24 28 & 30 th for all of which accept my thanks; we have been so unfortunate I presume as to lose Letters by a Melancholy ship wreck the last week. a vessel belonging to mr Lamb on Board of which was a Brother of Mr Lambs by whom I wrote to our sons, in comeing in last week, was in one of our winter...
233Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 3 November 1789 (Adams Papers)
I did not receive your Letter dated 25 untill sunday Evening which made it too late to write by the last post in replie to it. I do not know any thing that I wisht more for than to have past the winter at my own House for a summer situation this place is delightfull & the House convenient, and except its being Bleak and perhaps difficult of access in some parts of a severe winter, it is more...
234Abigail Adams to John Adams, 31 December 1793 (Adams Papers)
Your two kind Letters of the 19 & 20 th reachd me on the 28 th they are my saturday evenings repast. you know my mind is much occupied with the affairs of our Country. if as a Female I may be calld an Idle I never can be an uninterested Spectator of what is transacting upon the great Theater, when the welfare and happiness of my Children & the rising generation is involved in the present...
235Abigail Adams to John Quincy Adams, 11 July 1790 (Adams Papers)
I believe this is your Birth day, may you have many returns of this Period, encreasing in wisdom knowledge wealth and happiness at every Aniversary. it is a long time since I wrote to you, yet I have not been unmindfull of you I am anxious for your welfare, and Solicitious for your success in Buisness. you must expect however to advance slowly at first and must call to your aid Patience and...
236Abigail Adams to John Adams, 26 February 1794 (Adams Papers)
Not receiveing any Letters on saturday evening I was so impatient that I sent James to Town on sunday afternoon, and he brought me home your kind favours of the 8 th 9 th & 10 th of this Month; I do not omit writing to you once a week, and sometimes twice The late King of Prussia Said that every age must commit its own follies, and that the experience of others was but of little benifit to...
237Abigail Adams to John Adams, 16 January 1795 (Adams Papers)
I yesterday received yours of Jan ry 1 st 4 th and 5 th. I See by the papers the judicious Motion of Giles as it is an other Bone to pick; and brought forward with no other view or design, but to render himself popular with the Sans Culotts I cannot help despiseing and abhoring a Man, who is governd by Such base and Sordid motives. Giles’ face was allways my aversion and his Heart I detest,...
238Abigail Adams to Charles Adams, 5 February 1797 (Adams Papers)
I received Your kind congratulatory Letter upon the new year. accept My thank for the filial regard and affection with which they are expresst. it is the will of Providene to place me in a very conspicious station. it shall be my endeavour so to conduct in it, as to excite neither envy ill will or Jealousy. as shakspear expresses it, I would bear my Honours meekly fully sensible that I can say...
239Abigail Adams to John Quincy Adams, 11 November 1796 (Adams Papers)
I have to acknowledg the receipt of two kind Letters from You Since I wrote You last, No 21 from the Hague June 30. and No 22 July 25. for both of them accept my Cordial Thanks. Letters from either of my sons, give me a flow of spirits for a week, and a Durable gratification in the perusal of them, as they contain judicious reflections and observations which would do honour to the most...
240Abigail Adams to John Adams, 24 May 1794 (Adams Papers)
Yours of the 17 th came this day to me I do not know to what to ascribe the failure of my letters unless our son forgot to put them into the post office. I wrote you twice upon the very week of which you complain; & tho I have not faild writing to you once a week ever since you left me, I have not very often written twice, but some Buisness that week occurd which I wanted your opinion of. That...
241Abigail Adams to John Adams, 21 February 1795 (Adams Papers)
I did not get my thursday Letters till fryday Eve when as you may well suppose I was greatly allarmd at the account You gave me of our dear daughter. I had written twice too her since her confinement, but had not received a line tho, I requested miss Peggy to write me whilst mrs Smith was unable. I Suppose the fear of allarming was the reason, and as it is ten days Since the date of yours and...
242Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 12–14 December 1790 (Adams Papers)
I have received your two kind Letters one dated in october the 30 day I think & the 14 of Nov br as the last came by a private Hand it did not reach me till last Evening. you will suppose that I might have written to you long e’er this, but as my letters would only have been a detail of grivences and troubles I was reluctant at taking my pen, and put it of from day to day. I reachd this city...
243Abigail Adams to Hannah Quincy Lincoln Storer, 29 January 1790 (Adams Papers)
By my son who Sets out in the morning on his return to Boston, I write to thank you for your kind Letter of december, and for the present which accompanied it. the Butter was very fine, and much Superiour to any that I have been able to procure here. if I did not hear others complain of that article, I should be led to doubt my own judgment, and to suppose that I had brought my Yankee fancies...
244Abigail Adams to Elbridge Gerry, 31 December 1796 (Adams Papers)
Your obliging favour of December 28 th , I received by the Hand of Dr. Welch. I thank you Sir, for your Congratulations, which receive their value from the Sincerity with which I believe them fraught. The elevated station in which the Suffrages of our Country have placed our Friend, is encompassed with so Many Dangers and difficulties, that it appears to Me a slipery Precipice, surrounded on...
245Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 20–21 March 1792 (Adams Papers)
I have obliged Louissa, much against her judgment, to give me a pen Ink and paper, that I might mak an effort however feeble to write a few lines to my dear sister Tis now the sixth week since I have been out of the door of this Chamber, or moved in a larger circle than from my Bed to the chair I was taken six weeks ago very ill with an Inflamitory Rhumatism and tho it did not totally deprive...
246Abigail Adams to John Adams, 22 January 1793 (Adams Papers)
I received your kind favours of Ja’ nry 8 & 9 th and on saturday a Letter from our daughter I have been in Town for a few days—for the first time I chose not to come till all the Bustle of Election was past Election for a Representitive has taken place since I came here. Honestus’s Friends and emisaries have been indefatigable in procuring votes for him, and their success has been Such that he...
247Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 27 July 1790 (Adams Papers)
I received your kind Letter of july 4 th the articles sent by captain Barnard all arrived in good order, and I have to acknowledg mr Cranchs kind care in attending to them. you have got through commencment and I hope have not been made sick with the trouble and fatigue. we had a pleasent day here, not over Hot and I pleasd, myself with the hope that it was so with you. We got Thursdays paper,...
248Abigail Adams to John Adams, 21 January 1795 (Adams Papers)
We have had very Severe weather through the whole of this week, but very little snow. yet the Ground being hard froze, our people have been sledging Stones. to day the wind has come round to the Southard, & Thaws. we cannot do half the buisness I want to have done. from here they go out early & spend no Idle time. the other Team does not work so hard, but looking after so Many cattle takes up...
249Abigail Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 30 November 1795 (Adams Papers)
I Love to receive a Letter from both Brothers at once, and I suppose each of You like to have a Seperate Letter. I write all my politicks to the Minister and then am as much at a loss, what to write to you, as I Sometimes am, to find conversation for a company of Ladies. I go but little from Home, and many interesting events, pass unnoticed. of Domestick occurrences I believe I wrote you, that...
250Abigail Adams to John Quincy Adams, 11 July 1796 (Adams Papers)
This is the Aniversary of the Birth which of that Day when as the poet expresses it, We have in commemoration of it Drank the Health of the American Minister at the Hague nor did we forget to Breathe a fervent petition to Heaven for a perfect restoration of the Health of his equally beloved Brother. I am Maternal Heart of is pained & distresst to hear of the repeated Sickness of my Dear...