151From Abigail Smith Adams to Adelaide Johnson, 26 February 1812 (Adams Papers)
I received your Letter with the inclosures and have written and forwarded them by a vessel just going to St Petersburgh—since I wrote to you last I have received two Letters from my son, one dated 2 of october and the other 25th they had just removed from their Country residence into the city, and were all well much improved in their health from the Air of the Country through the hot months....
I know my dear Child I shall wound your affectionate heart when I communicate to you the affliction we are all in, for the loss of our dear little Francis. She Struggled for a Month with the hooping cough, and I flatterd myself that She would get the better of it, but it proved too hard for her delicate Frame & on Wednesday the 24th her pure and spotless Spirit assended to heaven, their to...
153From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 12 March 1812 (Adams Papers)
I have already acknowledged the receipt of your Letter by Captain Bainbridge received three weeks Since and Stated that 4 Numbers were missing. Yesterday we received from new york a Letter for your Brother No 25 dated Nov’br 6th which arrived in the Ship Phenix Capt. Freeman 60 Days from Gottenburgh, in which vessel came mr Loring Austin by whom you write that you Sent a Letter for me, which I...
154From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 12 April 1812 (Adams Papers)
As Congress are going to lay an Embargo, of sixty days, the Bill having already past the House, all is hurry and Dispatch to get every vessel to Sea before it passes into a Law, in three days one hundred were cleard at the Single port of N york thirty from Boston. how many from Salem and the numerous ports in this state we have not yet learnt, how many of them will be permitted to return Safe;...
155From Abigail Smith Adams to Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody, 20 April 1812 (Adams Papers)
I had got comfortably through the cold of the winter, but the chilling winds of March have laid me up in April. I was threatend with a Setled fever last week, which has reduced me in a few days quite low. the dr gives me hopes that he has broken it up with opium & calomil pills—and saline . I feel relieved both in my head and Limbs—and am now able to write, which I was not last week. I did...
156From 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,...
157From 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...
158From Abigail Smith Adams to George Washington Adams, 25 May 1812 (Adams Papers)
I thank you my dear George for your Letter. I was glad to learn that you had such an agreable Ride to Atkinson, and that the objects of Nature presented themselves in Such pleasing coulours to you The contemplation of nature, and its history fills the mind with the greatest variety of Ideas, and never brings weariness or disgust, and as an Elegant writer expresses it “The Study of Nature like...
159From Abigail Smith Adams to Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody, 17 July 1812 (Adams Papers)
I received your Letter written upon the Birth-day of my only daughter, and memorable to me for that occasion, as well as the Eleventh of the Same Month upon which was Born J Q Adams, and a Sister whom I lost, and whom no doubt you recollect from the circumstances attending it, for you were with me. so much for Egotism. now I will replie to your queries. in the first place, I have the pleasure...
160From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 29 July 1812 (Adams Papers)
Mr Benjamin Beal jun’r Who has long resided in France, returnd last Winter upon a visit to his Family here as he connected himself in France, his stay here has been Short, and he is now going back in a to Liverpool, and from thence to France I request him to take this Letter for you, which I shall place under-cover to Mr Barlow our Minister in France that he may forward it to you by the first...
161From Abigail Smith Adams to William Eustis, 5 August 1812 (Adams Papers)
I address you upon a subject of much delicacy and which from circumstances which must be well known to you makes me diffident in presenting to your view the oldest Revolutiary Feild officer now Living. I presume I need not name to you his former Services, nor the loss of property which his Family sustaind by the Enemy, nor the wounds he received in the Service, or those qualification, which so...
I received your letter this day, written from Springfield; this has been a relief to us to hear that you were well, and that your dear mother bore her journey so well. After you left me I felt no restraint upon me, and could give way to all I felt and all I had suppressed; my harp was upon the willow, and my spirits at a very low ebb; I have in some measure recovered them, and follow you daily...
163From Abigail Smith Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 9 August 1812 (Adams Papers)
After I returnd from your hospitable Mansion where the scenes of former days were pleasin g ly renewd I had the Subjects of contraversy between two ancient Friends and upon a review—I must Candedly Say that I judged both in the wrong, and am certain if personal intercourse from unavoidable circumstances had not been obstructed, neither party would so have judged, or so have written— I was can...
164From 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...
165From 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...
166From Abigail Smith Adams to Hannah Phillips Cushing, 1 September 1812 (Adams Papers)
Your kind invitation would be joyfully accepted by my young Ladies, but at present they have with them Some Ladies Staying with them upon a Visit, whom it would be improper for them to leave—they will however embrace the first opportunity of paying their Respects to you. they will regreet it much if miss Alwin Should be absent, to whom they desire to be kindly rememberd. Mrs Smith and Caroline...
167From Abigail Smith Adams to William Stephens Smith, 6 September 1812 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of Decbr 30 1811 has Slept in my in my Beaurous untill your prophesys have become dreadfull realities—in which I rejoice that you have no lot or portion, if your experience and counsel had been held in requisition the fate of poor Hull might not have been a disgrace to the Nation—Gasconade ought always to be the exclusive Majesty of the Nation Said to be famous for it—just as I was...
My daily care and visits for a fortnight past have been to the sick and dyeing Bed of our good old Domestic Pheby—and my anxiety for her when I am absent, least she should not be sufficiently attended to, makes me frequently wish I had her under my own Roof. Mrs Greenleaf is my Second in all my cares. She amply Supplies the place of our dear sister as far as means will permit. Mrs Adamss...
169From Abigail Smith Adams to Ann Frances Harrod Adams, 13 September 1812 (Adams Papers)
It was not untill Saturday morning when I went to See my poor old domestic Pheby, that I learnt a word respecting my dear little Elizabeths Sickness—I carried up Abigail with to See you Supposing you had returnd, too much fatigued to call in the Evening. Inda then informd me that She heard by mr Saxon that She was very Sick. you may easily imagine how anxious I was untill mr Adams returnd in...
170From Abigail Smith Adams to Ann Frances Harrod Adams, 20 September 1812 (Adams Papers)
I received your Letter of 17th of the last Evening and rejoiced with trembling. Dr Hoolbrook thought if Dear Child lived over that day, there would be hopes of he . I pray heaven it may be so, for all our Sakes— but arly for her afflicted parents. I never Saw greater distress My dear Sons when he came to See us, the night he left her for Haverhill; he had Struggled to conquer his feelings &...
Your neat, pretty letter, looking small, but containing much, reached me this day. I have a good mind to give you the journal of the day. Six o’clock. Rose, and, in imitation of his Britannic Majesty, kindled my own fire. Went to the stairs, as usual, to summon George and Charles. Returned to my chamber, dressed myself. No one stirred. Called a second time, with voice a little raised. Seven...
Yesterday was our Thanksgiving day. In our own way, and with tempers suited to the occasion, we gave thanks for those blessings which we felt had been granted to us in the year past, for the restoration and recovery from dangerous sickness of members of our own family; and, although in one instance we had been called to weep, in many others we had cause of rejoicing. We were in health; we had...
173From 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...
174From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 30 December 1812 (Adams Papers)
Despairing almost of conveying a Letter to you amidst the war of Empires and Kingdoms, I have had but little encouragement to write, yet knowing how anxious you must be Relative to your Family, your Children your Friends and Country I Shall make the attempt, and trust this Letter on Board a Cartel now going from Nyork to England, hopeing that it will be treated with the Same lenity, with which...
175From Abigail Smith Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 30 December 1812 (Adams Papers)
I will not Suffer the year to close upon me without noticeing your repeated favours and thanking you for them—so long as we inhabit this Earth and possess any of our faculties we must do feel for our fee posterity for our Friends and our Country—personally We have arived so near the close of the drama that we shall feel but few of those evils which await others, (we have past through one...
176From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 3 January 1813 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your care of my Letters those that I mist, which you put in the Book were found. Mr Beal deliverd your Note. I had a Letter a fortnight Since from Adelaid in which She Says, mr Hellens Health has been the cause, why the connection is deferd I have my doubts whether it will ever take place. Abbe mentiond to me that Eliza Guild had written you that She heard E M—was engaged to S,...
177From Abigail Smith Adams to Elizabeth Smith, 5 January 1813 (Adams Papers)
Thanks my Dear cousin for the Ring which containing a memorial of my Ever dear Aunt your Mother is more valuable to me than a Ring of Rubies— I Love I esteem I venerate her memory as I did her Character while living, as She always treated me like a child I have every reason to cherish her memory. I never knew a purer Character, or a more Stricktly pious woman from years of intimacy with her. I...
178From Abigail Smith Adams to George Washington Adams, 9 January 1813 (Adams Papers)
I was much pleased with the improvement of in your hand writing. I have had to regret all my Life time the want of that accomplishment. when I was young, I was brought up in a Town where it was at that time, customary for Girls to attend Schools for writing, and female Education was much less attended to than at the present day; indeed it was almost wholy neglected—when you get a little...
179From Abigail Smith Adams to Esther Black, 24 January 1813 (Adams Papers)
your Letter of December & gave me pleasure, and I wish I could in return Communicate the Same to you, but Since I wrote you last you have been calld to mourn with is —Dear Relatives the loss of a kind Husband and the affectionate parent of a Numerous family from your long connection & intimacy with them, the Sudden Death of the Head of such a family must nearly afflict you— and I hope you will...
180From Abigail Smith Adams to George Washington Adams, 25 January 1813 (Adams Papers)
I received this day a Letter from your father dated 21 Sep’br. it was a Letter different from any which I have before received from him.—it communicated to me, and to you the sorrowfull intelligence of the Death of your dear and only Sister. She was taken Sick in August, and died the 15th of Seb’br with a nervous fever which brought on convulsions your parents are in great affliction as you...
181From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 25 January 1813 (Adams Papers)
This day two years since; I was cloathed in Sable for the Death of mrs Norten’s Since which time, I have had repeated occasion to continue it, and this day, your Letter of Sepbr 20th has filld our Eyes with tears; and our hearts with anguish. most tenderly and affectionatly do I feel the sorrows of the Parents, who perhaps had too fondly “garnered up their Hearts” in their lovely Babe, without...
How shall I address a Letter to you, how share and participate in your Grief without opening affresh the wound which time may in some measure have healed? distance excluded me from knowing Your distress, or shareing your Sorrows, at the time when you most needed consolation but neither time, or distance has banishd from my Bosom, that Sympathy which alltho, Billows rise; and oceans Roll...
183From Abigail Smith Adams to Hannah Phillips Cushing, 18 February 1813 (Adams Papers)
I have been contemplating writing to you for Several weeks past; to inquire after your health, and that of your Family through the winter, but I have delayed it, untill the voice of Friendship bids me sympathy with the bereaved Sisters and Relatives over the Brave Youth, who has fallen in defence of the injured Rights & honour of his Country. How beautifull is death when earned by virtue Who...
184From Abigail Smith Adams to William Stephens Smith, 18 February 1813 (Adams Papers)
While I am writing the loud Roar of the cannon announce the landing of comodore Bainbriddge from the fortunate frigate constitution. the account of the Capture of the Frigate Java I presume you will get, sooner than this Letter will reach you. She contended bravely an hour and 50 minuts untill masts spars and rigging were all gone and the ship a wreck. accordingly she was blown up by Commodore...
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...
186From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 25 February 1813 (Adams Papers)
upon looking over my list, I find that I have written to you a Letter every month, since october. my last Letter was in Janry 21st, written immediatly after receiving yours of Sepbr 21, informing me of the loss of your Dear Babe. I wrote to Mrs Adams at the Same time. the Letters went in a cartel to Liverpool, through the kindness of a Friend. Since that period I have not received a line from...
187From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 27 February 1813 (Adams Papers)
Before I closed my Letter to you, I received this morning your Letter sent by mr Harris, of october 25th. I rejoiced to See your hand writing altho I read with trembling. I have participated in your greif, and shared your Sorrows. let not gloom and melancholy take root in your mind the wounded heart must have time to recover from the Stroke which has pierced it. there are Duties which you are...
188From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 9 March 1813 (Adams Papers)
This mornings post, brought your Letter of march 3d with the inclosure, which I shall forward by the next mail, I thank you for the entertainment it afforded, it will answer a two fold purpose, that of letting me know the incidents of your journey, and your progress through it, and afterwards—giving a similar gratification to the Friends at the Valley, I beleive I must agree with you to...
189From Abigail Smith Adams to Thomas Baker Johnson, 3 April 1813 (Adams Papers)
It is with Sincere pleasure that I acknowledge your Letter of Febry 23d this day received, a Letter endeard to me, comeing from the Son, of a Friend whose memory I cherish, whose loss I have not ceased to mourn, and whose frequent, and intelligent correspondence I highly valued To her Children, who must rise up, and call her blessed, her price was far above Rubies. Her only, her beloved, her...
190From Abigail Smith Adams to James Monroe, 3 April 1813 (Adams Papers)
upon the 23d of Feb’ry mr Adams addrest a Letter to you, and inclosed a private Letter from my Son at St Petersburgh to me, requesting a return of it by the next Mail. as the Letter has not been received I presume in the multiplicity of buisness, It has been forgotten. You will oblige me by sending it, and at the same time do me the favour to forwarding the packet which accompanies this Letter...
191From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 5 April 1813 (Adams Papers)
I have already written to you, in replie to your Melancholy Letter of Sepbr 20th. and have offer’d to the wounded Bosoms of my dear Children all the consolation which a participation in their Sorrows could impart. “Some feelings are to mortals given with less of earth in them, than heaven And if there be a human tear From passions drop refind and clear A tear So limpid and So meek It would not...
192From Abigail Smith Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 9 April 1813 (Adams Papers)
I cannot let my Son pass through Plimouth without stoping to inquire after your Health, and that of Your Family! Nor of asking You who have lived many years, and where observations and experience, must have excited in your mind, Reflections which ought not to terminate with your days— what is your opinion of the great and important events which are taking place in the civilized world? will...
193From Abigail Smith Adams to James Monroe, 20 April 1813 (Adams Papers)
I have this day the pleasure of your Letter of April 10th with the inclosure. The intelligence you have been pleased to communicate to mr Adams, and to me, occasion many reflections in my mind. But with respect, to the path of Duty before me, I have not any hesitation. Early taught to relinquish all personal considerations and enjoyments, at the call of my Country, Surrounded with a young...
194From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 23 April 1813 (Adams Papers)
For three weeks past there have been many & various reports in circulation respecting the Mediation to Russia & there has been much Said and written respecting the persons to be appointed. It was not untill yesterday that your Father & I was officially notified that mr Gallatin and Bayard were associated with you in a commission to Negotiate a Peace between Great Britain and the united States,...
195From 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...
196From 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...
197From Abigail Smith Adams to Abigail Amelia Adams Smith, 27 April 1813 (Adams Papers)
You will, I know, share with your father and me, in lamenting the death of our ancient friend, our physician, the constant correspondent and endearing companion; the benevolent, learned, and ever to be regretted Rush. It is indeed a heavy stroke; an unexpected one to your father: one for which we were unprepared, having a weekly correspondence with him for a long time. On Saturday last we...
198From 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...
199From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 3 May 1813 (Adams Papers)
The vessel which carries you this Letter will convey to you the account of the Death of a dear and valued Friend, the Friend of his Country, the Friend of Mankind, and the confidential Friend & constant correspondent of your Father, the Sincerely lamented Rush upon the 10 of April your Father received a Letter from him, as he had done for more than a year almost every week. upon the 18th to...
200From Abigail Smith Adams to Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody, 5 May 1813 (Adams Papers)
I have made up packets of Letters for this mornings post, to Wiscasset, to N york, to the Valley & to Philadelphia. You will readily suppose that I am weary no I really am, tho correspondence of Harriot welch to Caroline & hers to Harriot all pass through my hands—She is now with mrs Bailey, and Yesterday brought a large packet from William Smith to his Mother Brother and Sister, all of which...