61From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 17 August 1817 (Adams Papers)
I wrote to you on Monday by mr Cruft in much anxiety about John requesting you to let hear from you pr post, if not by osburn—I have not heard a word Since. I mentiond I beleive Sending to Mr Fosters, but I had as good send to wisscasset—I got the carpet on Saturday by Mr Beal, but did not know it, when I wrote to you. I like it much. thank you. but I made the Crape answer tho not very...
I received your Letter of March 2d which has increased my anxiety to hear again from you, for a series of misfortunes Seem to have clustered around you. pray inform me how mrs Frye her Husband and Children are? I scarcly expect to hear the last are living. what a Scene you had to pass through? I do not wonder you were Sick—That Erysipelas which has Several times troubled you, is a very...
63From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 17 October 1817 (Adams Papers)
Welcome home again—I received by mrs Adams your Note, and Carolines, the Same Mail brought me a Letter from Susan of the 7th from utica, saying that the Carriage was at the door waiting to convey them to Albany, from thence they should proceed to Fishkill—and I suppose would arrive there just about the time Caroline intended Setting out. which may retard them a day or two—I hope however if...
64From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 14 March 1817 (Adams Papers)
I wrote the inclosed a few days Since, but not having an opportunity to Send it which I liked I have kept it for the memorandum which it contains—Louisa gets a little strength, tho She Swells and puffs in her feet and arms, no perspiration upon her. her appetite is better and She bears the Bark which is a good Symptom. these March winds are intolerable, worse than the coldest we have had...
65From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 18 August 1817 (Adams Papers)
Before I go into Bed, I must write you a few lines, after the agitation of the day—about Ten this morning Louisa announced a carriage & four comeing down the Hill. I ran to the door, it arrived in a few moments, the first who sprang out was John, who with his former ardour was round my neck in a moment. George followd half crazy calling out o Grandmother—o Grandmother. Charles half frightned,...
The Children Say that they have your permission to come to Town to dine with Commodore Hull—and to Stay untill Saturday to visit the Carval I have accordingly let them take the Stage this morning—I think they had better accept mrs Fosters invitation & Lodge there, but that as you judge best; mrs Adams will be calld home, Elizabeth being again very sick—I hope to See you in Town tomorrow— yours...
67From 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...
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...
69From 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...
70From 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...
71From Abigail Smith Adams to Hannah Phillips Cushing, 17 March 1817 (Adams Papers)
There is Surely a Secret Sympathy between us, for the very week in which you have written me I was contemplating to write you a Letter. I was only doubtfull where to address it. You have kindly removed this difficulty, and I have the pleasure to learn by your Letter that you have past the winter Socially with your Friends at Plimouth—Solitary you never were when inhabiting your own...
72From Abigail Smith Adams to John Adams, 25 June 1818 (Adams Papers)
enclosed is the money which mrs Welsh advanced upon your account which you will pay her, and get her to Sign the Receit enclosed. you have not sent your shoes to be mended—& Charl e s if bare foot I have no compassion for as he would not take the trouble to call upon the shoe maker, he ought to feel the concequence—I Shall expect to see you on Saturday your affectionate G M MHi : Adams Papers.
I have not yet acknowledged your favour of June 27th I go so seldom into the buisy world, that I can get little to amuse or entertain you with. Harriet too is yet with her Sister. She always had something of foreign or domestic to amuse us with—I miss her much, and that upon the Childrens account, as well as my own—The fourth of July has past with much Eclat, and good humour in Boston, with an...
74From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 7 April 1818 (Adams Papers)
My last Note went to you by mr Marston, with two Letters enclosed—I did not write on Saturday as mr A. calld before I had leisure in the morning—it is now five weeks Since Susan was confined, and She is not able to Sit up more than half the day—She has been much weakened by an inflamation and much pain. added to that, what is calld the Miliary Eruption, which I never before Saw, but which I...
75From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 30 May 1817 (Adams Papers)
The Books have come, and never were in the Custom house as I beleive. it was not a Box, but a package. Farmers Works are a part of them. mr Tappant, Sent them out. mr Aspinwall our consul had the charge of them, and they came in the Margaret Frances, and not as Supposed in the Galen I received your Note by mr Greenleaf. I inclose the pattern I like best. Seven yds if you please of it. Louissa...
76From Abigail Smith Adams to Ward Nicholas Boylston, 30 March 1817 (Adams Papers)
We promise ourselves the pleasure of visiting you on fryday next, and hope that a Severe Cold now attacking both the President and myself, will yiald before that day, to Herb Tea, and mild weather. nothing but indisposition will prevent our accepting Your kind invitation, or I Should add, Stormy weather. Many thanks for the Balsam My Neice continues way weak, altho’ She has not had any return...
77From Abigail Smith Adams to Abigal Adams Shaw Felt, 10 February 1818 (Adams Papers)
Why my dear Neice so loth to use your pen? But I do not hear from it twice in a year? Altho you possess many of the virtues of your Mother, and inherit many of her amiable qualities, you do not keep up that literary intercourse with your nearest Relatives, which was a distinguished trait in her Character. few persons held so eloquent a pen; or could find such ready access to the Heart: I...
I heard of you at Providence from mr Fearno , and I was yesterday informd that the News paper reported your arrival at N york on Saturday. I hope tomorrows Mail will give me Some direct intelligence as the two or three first days of your journey the weather was very oppressive, I fear you must have endured great fatigue. By this time I hope you are compensated for it, by the happy meeting of...
Since the 18th July, I have not received a Line from you or my Son, altho I have been in daily expectation of hearing that you were sitting your faces this way. I have learnt from mr Cruft that mr Adams contemplated being here, as I understood him by the last of this Month, or sooner if he could. The intercourse between us, is not so frequent as I could wish. Even tho it consisted of “How do...
80From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 18 November 1817 (Adams Papers)
I return Carolines Letter with thanks and rejoice to learn that she & the Family arrived safe after their Quixot expedition, in which I think Caroline risked her own Life & that of her child—tho while she was here I did not like to tell her so. She certainly made too free with her Health & constitution as her appearence showed— I have a commission from mrs dexter rather I should say petition....
81From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 24 November 1817 (Adams Papers)
I known you are fast asleep while I have kindled my own fire in my chamber calld my men and maidens and am sit down in the parlour to write much to brag of at 73. but then I cannot see to thread my needle, nor sew quick nor go here & there as I could in days past, but then I have better health, and in general good Spirits. always endeavouring to look upon the bright side without Gloomy...
82From Abigail Smith Adams to Richard Rush, 14 July 1817 (Adams Papers)
I owe you many thanks for the early notice which you transmitted me, of mr Adams’s acceptance of the Appointment of State. untill yesterday, I have remaind without any direct communication from him. The Letter which I inclose for your perusal, I regret not having received a day or two Sooner, that I might have had the pleasure of communicating it to the President when he did us the favour of...
83From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 2 August 1817 (Adams Papers)
How shall we get on without you? I dont half like it. why cannot you come out with mr Shaw? if you had Said Yes mr Clarke would gladly have come in for you. taking all things into consideration—I made a proposition to them to day that they should be married on Sunday Evening—as they rejected having a dinner, for I could not see how I could avoid a dinner if they were married in the...
84From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 18 February 1818 (Adams Papers)
I have wanted to be writing these two days, but an incessant succession of company which the fine sleighing has tempted out, has prevented, and this Evening after tea I have taken my pen to thank you, for your kindness to George, and to say mr Adams will Send you a check upon the Bank on Saturday if he does not come to Town before—I have a Letter from Caroline which altho it does not contain...