1201Charles Adams to Abigail Adams, 11 September 1796 (Adams Papers)
Your favor of the 6 th instant came to hand yesterday. I can give you no certain information respecting Col Smiths affairs He has a vast property in his hands but is very much embarrased for want of money to make his regular payments as they become due Whether on the winding up he will have anything left is what I believe neither he or anyone else knows. He acted on a very large scale and...
1202Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 5 October 1796 (Adams Papers)
My last letter to you was dated the 27 th: of August, and went by “the Gen l Green” for Rhode Island. I hope ere this it has made more than half the passage. A direct opportunity offers for Boston from Rotterdam and another from the Capital, by the latter of which, I am informed, in a letter from Mess rs: Willink just received, will be sent the table linnen & ca: which was ordered by you last...
1203Mercy Otis Warren to Abigail Adams, 13 November 1796 (Adams Papers)
I return my dear madam miss Williams letters with Lovuts memoirs— am much obliged & hope have not detained them too long— am sorry to hear by Your late short billet that You do not enjoy perfect health— was the stage driver under any mistake when he told me you Contemplated a passage to Plimouth in the stage ere long— I hope he was not: as such a Circumstance would be exceedingly gratifying to...
1204John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 14 November 1796 (Adams Papers)
I received a few days ago, your favour of August 10 th. it mentions a previous letter of July 11 th. which has not yet reached me. The latest date from you before this last is of June 10. From my father I think I have none since May.— The appointment to the mission of Portugal, I find from your Letter was as I had before concluded, unknown to my father. I have already written you upon the...
1205Charles Adams to Abigail Adams, 16 November 1796 (Adams Papers)
I have received your two last letters that by M r Bracket accompanied by the presents you were so kind to make us. The fruit though it had a very long passage is very fine there not being more than thirty unsound pairs in the whole barrel the cheese is also remarkably good and I think would deceive the most experienced Englishman— The anxiety respecting the event of the election is very great...
1206John Adams to Abigail Adams, 27 November 1796 (Adams Papers)
We lodged at Monroe’s in Marlborough on Wednesday night, at Hithcocks in Brookfield Thursday night, at David Bulls in Hartford Fryday night and at Lovejoys in Stratford last night. I have been to hear Sound orthodox Calvinism from M r Stebbins this morning. At Hartford I Saw M r Adets Note in Folio to our Secretary of State, and I find it an Instrument well calculated to reconcile me to...
1207John Adams to Abigail Adams, 1 December 1796 (Adams Papers)
I Spent a pleasant Day before Yesterday with M rs Smith and her Children at East Chester where they now live. At night the Col & his two Brothers came home from hunting Patridges and Quails an Amusement which had engaged them two Days. Halcyon Days are over, at that house but Horses are still very plenty. Yesterday I came to Town and have been happy with My son and Daughter here. The Baby is...
1208John Adams to Abigail Adams, 4 December 1796 (Adams Papers)
After Spending a Day and a Night at East Chester with our Children there and another at Newyork with our Children there I came to this City on Fryday night after a cold ride of 80 miles from Elizabeth Town. There are great Complaints of Want of Water for grinding, for Cattle and for Families through the whole Country. Yesterday I dined with the President in Company with John Watts the King of...
1209John Adams to Abigail Adams, 7 December 1796 (Adams Papers)
I have rec d your Letter of the cold Sunday on which I wrote you one from Stratford. In N. York Charles gave me the original Letter, the Duplicate of which you transmitted me. I communicated it to the P. with five preceeding Numbers. After reading them The P. was pleased to say that “M r Adams’s Intelligence was very good, and his Penetration and foresight very great. At least Things appeared...
1210John Adams to Abigail Adams, 8 December 1796 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed are Some Signal Accomplishments of Prophecies. Be cool and discreet in your Communications of them. No Such Person as Jasper Dwight is known to either of the Senators of Vermont. The Signature is thought to be fictitious. I have no Letter from you later than the Sunday after my Departure. Major Butler has indeed resign’d. They kept back Paines Letter Several Weeks, presuming no doubt...
1211John Adams to Abigail Adams, 12 December 1796 (Adams Papers)
I have just rec d your fav r. of the 4 th. I wrote you from stratford New York and from Philadelphia. Adets Note has had some Effect Pensilvania and prov’d a Terror to some Quakers and that is all the ill Effect it has had. Even the southern States appear to resent it. If Col Hamiltons personal Dislike of Jefferson does not obtain too much Influence with Massachusetts Electors, neither...
1212John Adams to Abigail Adams, 16 December 1796 (Adams Papers)
I rec d this morning your kind Letter of the 7 th. and wonder you had not rec d a Letter. I wrote from Stratford & Newyork and twice a Week since I have been here. your Anxiety for your Country is amiable and becomes your Character. Elevated Expectations of Grandeur and Glory as well as Prosperity have accompanied me through Life and been a great source of my Enjoyment. They are not diminished...
1213John Adams to Abigail Adams, 18 December 1796 (Adams Papers)
I went Yesterday at 12 O Clock to the Presbyterian Meeting House in Market Street to hear D r Rush pronounce an elegant and pathetic Elogium on M r Rittenhouse the late President of the Philosophical society. He made him out to be a good Man and a great Astronomer & Philosopher. This I agree and if he had not betrayed Jacobinical Weaknesses I should have liked him very well. D r Euwing is Sick...
1214John Adams to Abigail Adams, 19 December 1796 (Adams Papers)
I have this morning yours of the 9 th. Am glad you have mine from Stratford: you will receive others in Succession. I am not much chagrined at the disappointment of ploughing the Hill. The Spring will do. The more Seaweed is procured the better. I need not exhort you to get Wood. I am Glad M r Bass is provided for. I wish you to expend as little as possible in Labour except for Seaweed and...
1215John Adams to Abigail Adams, 20 December 1796 (Adams Papers)
I Yesterday dined at M r Binghams and Sitting next to Madam at Table, had Something like a political Conversation with her. She has more ideas of the Subject than I Suspected: and a correcter Judgment. She gave me the Characters of Several of the notable Foreigners, and I find has the Same Jealousies of them, which I have entertained. Talleyrand Liancourt, Volney, Caznove &c. Noailles is the...
1216Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 21 December 1796 (Adams Papers)
Towards the close of last month I had the pleasure to receive your kind letter of August 16 th: . I have been so much occupied since then, that it has been impossible for me to thank you sooner for the agreeable domestic intelligence it contains. I am led to suppose however that at the time it was written, your own health was considerably impaired, especially when you tell me, that at “this...
1217John Adams to Abigail Adams, 27 December 1796 (Adams Papers)
I rec d yours of the 14 on Fryday: but had no Letter on Monday. According to present appearances, Jefferson will be Daddy Vice, and between you and me I expect you will soon See a more ample Provision made for him, that he may live in Style—and not be obliged to lodge at Taverns and ride in Stage Coaches. I See plainly enough that when your Washingtons and Adams’s are Stowed away our dear...
1218John Adams to Abigail Adams, 30 December 1796 (Adams Papers)
The Prospect that opens upon me presents Troubles enough of every kind.— I have made Some Inquiry concerning Horses and Carriages, and find that a common Chariot of the plainest Sort cannot be had under Twelve hundred Dollars, and if you go to a little more ornament and Elegance you must give fifteen hundred. The President has a Pair of Horses to sell, one 9 the other 10 Years old for which he...
1219John Adams to Abigail Adams, 1 January 1797 (Adams Papers)
I wish the new Year may be the happiest of your Life. Last Night I had a Visit from D r Rush, whose Tongue ran for an hour.— So many Compliments, so many old Anecdotes. To be Sure, My Election he Said, he had vast pleasure in assuring me Since it had been made certain had given vast Satisfaction in this City and State. Even those who had voted for another had a great Affection for me. M r...
1220John Adams to Abigail Adams, 3 January 1797 (Adams Papers)
I rec d Yesterday your favour of 23. of Dec r. from Boston. The old Patrioch, has got a Name of Old Scrathum, or old Scratch or Some Such Oddity that will amuse the Blackguards for a time. M rs Storers Verses are very shrewd The Story of my Muteness, or Incapacity to talk, I almost wish were true.— On Some Occasions. D r Walters Politeness to be Sure is conspicuous. It is enough at present to...
1221John Adams to Abigail Adams, 5 January 1797 (Adams Papers)
M rs Swan and her Daughters, conducted by M rs Otis came into the Senate Chamber this morning to see the Room and Pictures. There I had Opportunities to see for the first time the fair young Ladies. I send you Guillotina, the most wanton Muse of the whole ten.— dreadful Truths are told in jest— Dallas tho, innocent , Dallas is much injured. I have now rec d Votes from Kentucky the last state:...
1222Elbridge Gerry to Abigail Adams, 7 January 1797 (Adams Papers)
I am honored by yours of the 31 st of december, & perfectly agree with you, respecting the difficulties to be encountered by our friend in executing the honorable office to which he is appointed. but difficult as it is, when we consider the abilities, integrity, & firmness of the patriot, I think, we have little reason to doubt that his administration will terminate to his honor— if he was...
1223John Adams to Abigail Adams, 9 January 1797 (Adams Papers)
I received to day, together, your Favours of the 31 st December 1796 and 1. Jan. 1797 Our H. of R. boasts that We are the most enlightened People in the World: but We behave like the most ignorant Babies, in a thousand Instances. We have been destroying all Terror of Crimes and are becoming the Victims of them. We have been destroying all Attachment and Obligation to Country and are Sold in...
1224Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody to Abigail Adams, 10 January 1797 (Adams Papers)
Day after day has slid off into the ocean of time, with the Yesterdays beyond the flood, replete with Intentions of writing to my dear, esteemed, much loved Sister. But Sickness, accumalation of family business, & the extreme coldness of the weather has prevented— The time alloted for visiting my Friends was much too short, for my feeble constitution. I had been very unwell for three weeks,...
1225John Adams to Abigail Adams, 11 January 1797 (Adams Papers)
on Tuesday when I waited as usual on M rs W. after attending the Levee, She congratulated me very complaisantly and Affectionately on my Election and went farther and Said more than I expected. She Said it gave them great Pleasure to find that the Votes had turn’d in my favour. &c I doubted whether their Prudence would have ventured so far. I believe it Sincere. Ket however the Stewart was...
1226John Adams to Abigail Adams, 14 January 1797 (Adams Papers)
M r Beale called upon me, a few Days ago and left your Letter of Dec r. 23 d. — Last Evening I presented him to the P. and M rs W. together with M r Howard, a son of D r Howard of Boston. You Say M r H. is very full of his Praises of M r Monroe— So is D r Edwards— He Says M
1227Ruth Dalton to Abigail Adams, 14 January 1797 (Adams Papers)
Your kind letter should not have lain so long unanswered had I not impatiently waited for the event so much wished by me, an event which to myself and Family gives great pleasure, and I beg leave to congratulate you with the greatest Sincerity I am happy to find the Country have not forgot to be grateful to so good a Man, and firm Friend. I have no doubts but the place of our Worthy and great...
1228John Adams to Abigail Adams, 16 January 1797 (Adams Papers)
I went Yesterday to hear D r Priestley, in the Philosophical Hall of the University and there I met unexpectedly with D r Euwing and D r Andross or Andrews. Euwing Seems paralytic and falling very fast. The Drift of the Discourse was to shew the Superiour moral Tendency of the Jewish and Christian Religions, to that of all the Pagan Rituals ancient and modern. The Weather is moderated. I hope...
1229John Adams to Abigail Adams, 18 January 1797 (Adams Papers)
I rec d , Yesterday by the Post, the inclosed Letter, which excites a hope of more by the Same Ship. There is a curious Mass of matter in fermentation at this Time. The French and Spaniards are as injurious as ever the English have been. Washington retires and his Sucessor will have but a majority of three Votes at most. and as if, it were to irritate every feeling nerve a Land Tax must be...
1230John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 18 January 1797 (Adams Papers)
A few days ago, I received a Letter from my father dated at Quincy the 28 th: of October, and brought by a vessel directly from Boston. But there came with it, none from you either to my brother or to me, and my father does not mention the state of your health, so that we are much concerned about it, particularly as a Letter from M r: Cranch at Washington, written in September mentions by...