401From Abigail Smith Adams to William Stephens Smith, 28 August 1811 (Adams Papers)
your Letter of August 12th I received in the absence of Mrs Smith, who was upon a visit to mrs Guild, and therefore I could not communicate it to her; she past Several days, in Boston at Dr welch’s, and as I had requested Dr warren was consulted in conjunction with Dr Welch upon her complaint, and their opinion was Similar to Dr Holbrook’s who is a Skilfull physician, and practises in our...
last Saturday my Dear Children and grandsons viz William your Brother, and little Charles Adams sailed in the Ship Horace Capt Beckford for Saint petersburgh this Seperation from a dear son at the advanced Age both of your Grandfather and me, was like taking our last leave of him, and was felt by us both, with the keenest anguish. our hearts were, “garnerd up in him” perhaps too closely and we...
403From Abigail Smith Adams to John Adams Smith, 12 March 1817 (Adams Papers)
I have not noticed your Letter bearing date 10 Novb’r—I had begun to think that you had renounced me as a correspondent—not having had a line from you for a long time—Like other Ladies who when Slighted turn their Backs or otherways express their Sense of it I did not feel myself obligated to write again—and gratified myself by reading Your Letters to Your Grandfather, and discharging my duty...
404From Abigail Smith Adams to Catherine Maria Frances Johnson Smith, 15 October 1816 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter my dear mrs Smith of Sepbr 23d I received while Caroline de Wint & her Babe were with me. It gave us both great pleasure to learn that you were well. mr & mrs de wint & miss Catharine Smaltys left us on the 12th for N York yesterday I received a few lines from Caroline Saying they reachd Providence the day they left us, & intended taking the packet the next day—I wish to hear of...
405From Abigail Smith Adams to Sarah Smith Adams, 3 July 1814 (Adams Papers)
It is more than a Month, Since a half finishd Letter has lain by, designd for you, and now it is like an old Almanac out of date, and lost its original value. I Shall therefore commit it to the flames, and begin a new Score. but Susan keeps you so constantly informd of all the events and transactions which transpire, and that in her own sprightly way, that She leaves me nothing to amuse you...
406From Abigail Smith Adams to Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody, 12 May 1814 (Adams Papers)
I realy ought to have written to you and have inclosed the few Lines to Cousin Abbe which were Sent me from Boston for her. now what excuse shall I make? why really I have not any. Yet I believe I will hunt up one. I remember that I could not agree with you in your politic’s you seem to have imbibed an undue prejudice against the chief Majistrate from the papers Stiled Federal. now I will tell...
your Letter of Feb’ry 15th, lies yet unacknowledged My Spirits have been in a whirl, the intelligence from new orleans, of the total defeat of the British forces, with the circumstance of Such Slaughter amongst the assailants, and Such unheard of protection of our Troops, ought Surely, by every Moral and Religious people, to be asscribed unto that Being, unto whom we pray, to “teach our hands...
408From Abigail Smith Adams to Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody, 24 April 1813 (Adams Papers)
Yesterdays post brought us heavey tydings tidings from Philadelphia. our Friend, our Physician, the constant and weekly correspondent of my Husband is no more; the Learned the accomplished, the Benevolent Rush is gone; I cannot describe how heavily this loss falls upon us in our old Age. it is like severing a Limb from the Body. upon the 10th of this Month the president received a Letter full...
409From Abigail Smith Adams to John Adams Smith, 26 November 1809 (Adams Papers)
I received your Letter of the 19th. I had written you a few hasty lines by mr Beals in which I exprest my anxiety at not hearing from your Mother for a long time—the day after I received a Letter from her and found all was well with them. I was about to write to her, when I was Seazd in my Right Eye with a disorder they call an ophtheil ophthalacy, which is thus described, an inflammation in...
410From Abigail Smith Adams to John Adams Smith, 1808 (Adams Papers)
I always feel most disposed to write when I have just received a Letter. Yet that is not the case now, but what is very similar to it. I have just read one from you to your Grandfather in which you mention Judge Bensons having commenced a course of Law Lectures and express a wonder at what could be his object as he does not receive any pecuniary reward. From the knowledge I have of Judge...
411From Abigail Smith Adams to Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody, 23 April 1810 (Adams Papers)
I this day received your kind Letter of the 17th. I know not any thing which would give me more pleasure than accepting your kind invitation. I had anticipated the pleasure of making you a visit this Spring, with the hope of improveing my Health, and invigorating my Spirits by the hospitable greetings of my dear Sister and Friends. I had find upon this month, but have had a Series of Sickness...
Thursday the 30th of November was our thanksgiving day. I was not able to go to meeting owing to my eye, which I regretted very much, as our good minister is always excellent upon particular occasions, I am told he was upon this At dinner I looked round, I hope with a thankful heart, but alass! how many of my dear children were absent, not one of them to give pleasure to the festive table, for...
A very droll accident happend to the inclosed Letter, as you will See by the address; I wrote two Letters yesterday, one to you, and one to the Select Men of the Town of Quincy in behalf of a poor woman who I thought Stood in need of assistance. the Letters were folded, and being call’d Suddenly down Stairs, I handed the wrong Letter to Susan desiring her to address it, the Letter was Sent...
414From Abigail Smith Adams to Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody, 5 June 1809 (Adams Papers)
I was unable to replie to my dear Sisters Letter of May 19th when I received it, being visited by St Anthony, who scourged me most cruelly. I am sure I wished well to the Spanish patriots in their late Struggle for Liberty, and I bore no ill will to those whose tutular saint thus unprovoked beset me. I wish he had been preaching to the fishes who according to tradition have been his hearers ,...
415From Abigail Smith Adams to Sarah Smith Adams, 20 January 1808 (Adams Papers)
I will not delay a Single hour to replie to your Letter of Jan’ry 8th just received, and to acknowledg the receipt of yours of Nov’br which ought not to have lain so long unanswerd. Since mrs Smith has been with me, I have not been in the habit of writing much, and when ever a reluctance to the pen commences, it increases with time, untill it becomes urksome. I know I ought to have written to...
I received your Letters by the Mail of yesterday, and by the return of it to day I write to give you all the information I have been able to collect, respecting your Son Mr George Black has lodgings near him and is frequently at Quincy. I got him to call and bring me word respecting him. my last account was on Monday, 2 days since. he was then getting better; tho not able to go out. the...
417From Abigail Smith Adams to Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody, 10 June 1807 (Adams Papers)
If I had written to you my dear sister half as often as I have thought of you and contemplated writing, you would have had a Letter by every Mail for these two months: I have to acknowledge the receipt of two kind Letters from you since I have made you any return the last bearing date May 29th, which came last week to hand, and to which I should have replied yesterday by a young Man who lives...
418From Abigail Smith Adams to Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody, 10 July 1811 (Adams Papers)
Not having Wholy dissolved by the intense heat of the last week, I am enabled from a change of the weather to take my pen, in lieu of my fan, and to ask you how much of you is left? when I Saw how much you sufferd the Saturday I left you in Boston from the heat, I was not a little anxious for you the last week: when it was 20 degrees hotter. I know not whether for four days together, I ever...
419From Abigail Smith Adams to William Stephens Smith, 9 April 1814 (Adams Papers)
Your letter of 2 April I duly received I Should have replied to it by the last mail, but I was not in a humour at that time. I therefore d eclined it, hoping that the next post would be more Satisfactory to me, and account for a delay which did not correspond with former professions. it has accordingly brought Such explanations as an fully Satisfactory to all concernd —oweing to the delay of...
420From Abigail Smith Adams to Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody, 24 August 1811 (Adams Papers)
Truly my dear sister I blush and am asshamed that I have not written to you in replie to your Several kind Letters; I will not hunt for excuses, or pretend the extreem heat of the weather prevented, altho it was so oppressive that I could not do any thing but fan and pant. I have repeatedly said well I must write this day. abbe have you written—No Mam why have you not, you have leisure? “I do...
421From Abigail Smith Adams to Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody, 18 July 1809 (Adams Papers)
It looks like a want of those gratefull feelings which I am sure are inmates of my Heart, that three weeks have elapsed since I left my dear sister, and her Hospitable Mansion, and I have not written her a line to tell her that I was highly gratified with my ride and visit; that my Health and that of Louisas was much benifited by it, and that I have wanted to hear directly from my dear Neice,...
422From Abigail Smith Adams to Sarah Smith Adams, 28 July 1816 (Adams Papers)
Think not my Dear Daughter that I have been silent through want of feelings—I have sympathized with you under the repeated Shames you have been called to endure, in the last I have been no common sharer, I have wept with the relatives, over the remains of a Brave, unfortunate Benevolent Man, a kind affectionate & tender companion of her, whom he has gone to join in the World of Spirits,...
my dear Caroline must be informd that her Grand mothers Eyes are so much afflicted as to oblige her to put on the Green Shade which her dear Mother made for her Grandfather, and this prevents her reading or writing for the present, Yet she cannot refrain from addressing a few lines to her to acknowledge her welcome Letter of and to congratulate her upon the Restoration of peace to their...
424From Abigail Smith Adams to Sarah Smith Adams, 24 April 1816 (Adams Papers)
I this morning received your Letter, dated the 10th I sympathize with you, under the repeated Bereavements you have been call’d to Suffer. your graces, and your virtues, are now call’d into action. it is not Stoical indifference, but a christian Submission, and resignation to the all wise dispensations of your heavenly Father, which is required of you. alive to the tenderest sensibilities, you...
your Letter of Novbr 12 I received. you was not more amazed at the news of the sudden match that I was it was considerd I presume by the Family as highly advantages I have learnt from various sources and such as may be relied upon, that mr Johnson the Father is one of the most respectable & wealthy merchants in utica, that he was in Business with this son and was in partnership with his Father...
I hear that Cousin Abbe is to return tomorrow to Atkinson. I Send by her two pr Socks for George and John. mittins I have not yet got knit, nor Georges waistcoats done; I hope I Shall before he wants them. I know they are where every proper care will be paid to them. they will both want new Hats Soon—I thought they could be purchased in Haverhill as well as here, and that it would be better...
I can scarcly belive that I have not written to my dear Girl for so long a time as two months, yet upon opening her Letter in replie to mine, I find it bears Date 28 Sep’br This Letter I hope will receive a double welcome for it incloses one from your Friend which of them I know not, but it came under cover to your Grandpappa this week. Your Aunt E. Adams has been sick almost ever since she...
I received this morning your Letter of 10th I feard that you were Sick, not hearing from you by the last mail, and knowing that you had a hoars cold. fevers upon the lungs are very prevalent at this time, and voilent inflamations upon the Throat. Susan who has been much with her Aunt, was this morning taken, or rather yesterday was seizd with the disorder to an allarming degree—we were obliged...
429From Abigail Smith Adams to Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody, 2 April 1811 (Adams Papers)
An inflamation in one of my Eyes, will prevent me from writing more than to thank you for your last very flattering Letter; and to say that I place it amongst my richest treasures— The president was in Town last Saturday and brought out with him your son. he does not appear to me to be fit for Buisness. he is very lame, and full of Rheumatism yet. he wants a wife to Nurse and tenderly care for...
430From Abigail Smith Adams to Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody, 26 June 1813 (Adams Papers)
I received your Letter of June 22d and rejoiced to find your Spirits So good. The Scriptures tell us to rejoice allways. this we cannot understand in a literal Sense, because we know that it is not consistant with reason, with our condition as human Beings, Subject to many calamities and by the Same Authority we are told, there is a time to mourn. we must therefore consider it as a direction...
431From Abigail Smith Adams to Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody, 5 May 1812 (Adams Papers)
I received by the last Mail your Letter of the 26th of April. the Severe weather of this week has made me almost Sick. it has brought an inflamation in my Eyes with Such a pain in the Eye Balls that I have not been able to turn them in my head. they are rather better than they were two days past, or I could not have written a line. my intention was to have gone into Boston with the Children,...
432From 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...
433From 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...
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,...
435From 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...
I was much gratified at receiving a Letter from you, as well as at the play of fancy, and the fire of Imagination which you displayed in it, Neither your Severe Sickness, or the premature Winter which so early visited us, had power to damp the ardour of your intellects. they rather appear now burnished and refined. long, long may they be continued to Solace your Friends, and Cheer the Evening...
Your Letter my dear Sister lies yet unnoticed, or rather I Should Say unreplied too The intelligence from N orleans of the total defeat of the British forces with the circumstance of Such Slaughter amongst the assailants and such unheard of Protection of our troops, ought surely by every moral & Religious people to be asscribed to that Being to whom we pray, that our hands may be taught to war...
438From Abigail Smith Adams to Caroline Amelia Smith De Windt, 3 May 1813 (Adams Papers)
I inclose you a volm from Harriot, and I have written to your Mother so late, that I have not a brain prolific enough to entertain you. I could inform you that our old gardner went to France this winter and did not expect to return soon enough to garden, and we have got another in his stead, who like most successors, finds fault with his predecessor, that this should have been so, and that...
Thursday, 30th November, was our Thanksgiving Day; I was not able to attend church, owing to my eye, which I regretted: our good minister is always excellent upon particular occasions; I am told he was upon this. At dinner I looked round, I hope with a thankful heart, but alas! how many of my dear children were absent, not one of them to give pleasure to the festive table; the young shoots and...
440From Abigail Smith Adams to Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody, 5 June 1809 (Adams Papers)
I was unable to replie to my dear sisters Letter of May 19th. being visited by St Anthony who scourged me most cruelly. I am sure I wished well to the Spanish patriots in their late struggle for their Liberty. I bore no ill will to the portegeze whose tutelar Saint thus wantonly beset me, I wish he had been preaching to the fishes, who according to tradition, have been his Hearers, for so ill...
I received this morning your Letter of the 10th and I have the pleasure to inclose to you a Quarters Rent which I received from mr Foster yesterday. I have Sent two Receits which I wish you to Sign, and return to me. when I Sent the last, there Should have been 50 cents more, but I did not love to put Silver with the paper least in conveying by mail, the paper would be injured. I now Send 38...
I received your Letter by the Mail of yesterday, and by the return of it to day I write you a few lines to give you all the information which I have been able to collect respecting your Son; mr George Beal who lodges near him; and is frequently going back to to Boston & returning I get him to call and inquire after him. my last account was on monday two days Since. he reports that he is...
I wrote to you upon fryday, but I do not now recollect what I have written. I know that my heart was full and my mind wrought up, to a pitch, beyond what it would bear. The Solemn Scene which presented to me, two Dear Relatives Sleeping in Death at the same moment, can never be effaced from my mind. upon Saturday I followed their remains to our own Tombs and Saw them dposited Side by Side,...
with the middle finger of my right hand bound up with a , which you know is very soar, I attempt to write you a few lines. altho they will be a detail of sickness and sufferings. For a fortnight past, my best Friend has been confined to his Chamber, a circumstance which has not taken place before for more than twenty years. he took a violent cold at the commencement of Sleighing, by going into...
I have not written to you this year! and this is the second month of it, and let us ask the rising year, now open to our view yet wrapped in darkness, whither dost thou lead? Let cheerful hope receive the welcome guest, gratefully recollecting the many blessings of the past year, and committing ourselves to the wise and overruling providence, who suffers not a sparrow to fall to the ground...
446From Abigail Smith Adams to Sarah Smith Adams, January 1808 (Adams Papers)
I will not delay a single hour to replie to your Letter of Jan’ry 8th just recived, and to acknowledge the receipt of that of Novbr which ought not to have lain so long unanswerd; Since Mrs Smith has been with me I have not been in the habit of writing, and when once a reluctance to the pen commences, it increases by time with time untill it becomes urksome. I know I ought to have written to...
447From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 24 September 1813 (Adams Papers)
I endeavour that you should hear from us by writing in every direction, yet when I take my pen my heart sinks, and my hand trembles. my last Letters which were in August were Sent to Halifax by a cartel to be conveyd to England to mr Beasley, and they contain’d such heart rending intelligence that I know not how to repeat it—Bad news has swifter wings than good, I have lost, O what have I not...
Your Journal No 7. to Janry 30th, Harriet brought me to day, just as we had sat down to dinner; It being thursday, John and Charles thought they would treat themselves, and miss Harriet with a Sleigh ride to Quincy—our Friends and acquaintance do not fail to improve the Season, and sometimes come upon us a little unwarily, for one day last week, I had nine at once to dine, when I knew only of...
I received yesterday your Letter of Novbr 27th. and was rejoiced to learn that you and the Children were well. I was just contemplating writing a Letter to my son to chide him for not writing to inform me, how George was grown, and improved, what he said when he saw his pappa again, and how mister John came on, whether he is as grave as his Brother George was how Master Georges socks fitted...
450From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 6 June 1815 (Adams Papers)
I return you Cs Letter, I think she will not be here untill the last of this month. I fear W’s situation an unpleasant one, it cannot be otherways, with a family and without means of supporting them—whether John will obtain the place he wants, I know not, nor am I very solicitious for it. I have written two letters for him. at his request, but knew not, if I was not essentially injuring his...