1351James Lovell to Abigail Adams, 4 September 1781 (Adams Papers)
Supposing Col. Laurens to have arrived at Rh. Island, I was greatly chagrined when he told me he had no Letters for you; and I was searching his papers to pick from them all the Comfort I could, to be transmitted to Braintree, when I found he had landed at Boston and had sent you a Message of what Satisfaction he could furnish relative to your dear Partner and your Children. What I told you...
1352John Adams to Abigail Adams, 19 April 1794 (Adams Papers)
Senate has been three days in debate upon the Appointment of M r Jay, to go to London. It has this day been determined in his favour 18 v s. 8. You cannot imagine what horror some Persons are in, least Peace Should continue. The Prospect of Peace throws them into Distress. Their Countenances lengthen at the least opening of an Appearance of it. Glancing Gleams of Joy beam from thier Faces...
1353John Adams to Abigail Adams, 24 November 1793 (Adams Papers)
We have had an agreable Journey to this Town, have been to Meeting all Day and heard two excellent Discourses from M r Strong: We are to drink Tea at Col Wadsworths. Trumbul and his Lady are at New Haven. At four or five O Clock in the Morning We proceed. The Weather to day is Soft and fine, tho We had last night a violent Wind & Rain. Accounts from Philadelphia are unanimous in favour of the...
1354From Thomas Jefferson to Abigail Adams, 11 September 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter, Madam, of the 18th. of Aug. has been some days recieved, but a press of business has prevented the acknolegement of it: perhaps indeed I may have already trespassed too far on your attention. with those who wish to think amiss of me, I have learnt to be perfectly indifferent: but where I know a mind to be ingenuous, & to need only truth to set it to rights, I cannot be as passive....
1355Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 22 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have had the House full of company for a week & have not been able to Steal a moments to write to you or to my dear children at Washington.— I have receiv’d yours of the 8th & 13th of June together with one from my Son to you & one for Doctor Tufts which I deliver’d immediately into his hands as he was present when I receiv’d it. He is at your House two or three times a week & always finds...
1356James Lovell to Abigail Adams, 3 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
I have this Afternoon received your Favour of June 12th. and at the same Time a Gazette from Boston, of later Date, in which I find a pleasing Entry in Regard to Mr. Adams’s Arrival in France. It is so likely to be true from the blundering Manner of it that I venture to congratulate you upon it. Mr. Thaxter is not yet arrived here, but is expected hourly. He will heartily participate in the...
1357John Adams to Abigail Adams, 3 March 1796 (Adams Papers)
I rec d this morning your favour of Feb. 22.—the more agreable as it was not very confidently expected. I should be glad to see M r Copley. Charles brought the Treaty from Col. John Smith who brought it from Lisbon. I hope you will have Letters by the Vessell you mention from Rotterdam. The Treaties with Spain & Algiers have been unanimously Sanctioned by senate and that with Britain is...
1358From Thomas Jefferson to Abigail Adams, 20 November 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been honoured with your two letters of Octob. 19. and 25. by Mr. Fox and Doctor Rodgers since the date of my last. I am to thank you for your state of Stanhope’s case. It has enabled me to speak of that transaction with a confidence of which I should otherwise have been deprived by the different state of it in the public papers and the want of information from America. I have even...
1359John Adams to Abigail Adams, 25 October 1797 (Adams Papers)
I send you the Letters— I could not keep my hands off of Nabby’s. I beg her Pardon. They write me flattering Accounts from Phil a. M r Anthony writes most confidently. No danger. No fever—alls well.— When Brisler goes he should throw Lime into the Cellar Vault &c. I think We ought to have been together to day. But tomorrow will do. I am glad Malcom came out. We must prepare to go to Phil a....
1360Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 2 November 1797 (Adams Papers)
I last monday receiv’d your Letter of the 22 d of october it was a long time coming. I wrote to you as soon as I thought you had arriv’d at your Daughters you have receiv’d a Letter from me & sister Peabody too I hope. I shall write, always about mrs Smiths little Boys when I can get any news from them. Will m Shaw did not go home this vacation but stay’d at cambridge to study I have not heard...
1361John Adams to Abigail Adams, 28 March 1777 (Adams Papers)
“A Plott! a Plott! an horrid Plott, Mr. A.” says my Barber, this Morning.—“It must be a Plott 1. because there is British Gold in it. 2. because there is a Woman in it. 3. because there is a Jew in it. 4. because I dont know what to make of it.” The Barber means, that a Villain was taken up, and examined Yesterday, who appears by his own Confession to have been employd by Lord Howe and Jo....
1362Lucy Cranch to Abigail Adams, 24 June 1786 (Adams Papers)
How good you are my dear Aunt, to favour me so often with your charming Letters, you cannot think how proud I am of them. I read them very often. I hope I shall even be the better for the instructions contained in them, and catch some of that warm regard for honour and virtue which shows itself in every sentence. What an idea do you give us of high life in Europe. Is it possible that beings...
1363John Adams to Abigail Adams, 26 July 1783 (Adams Papers)
Last Saturday, I left Paris, and on Tuesday arrived, at the Hague. To Day I am come to this Town. I Shall return to Paris in a Fortnight. So as to make my whole Absence about three Weeks. Soon after my Return I expect the definitive Treaty will be Signed, but in this I may be mistaken. My Son is with me in good health. I had a tender Meeting with the dear Companion of my Voages and Journeys,...
1364John Adams to Abigail Adams, 11 February 1776 (Adams Papers)
Here I am again. Arrived last Thursday, in good Health, altho I had a cold Journey. The Weather, a great Part of the Way, was very severe, which prevented our making very quick Progress, and by an Accident which happened to one of my Horses, which obliged me to leave her at Brookfield and hire another, was delayed two days. An Horse broke loose in the Barn and corked mine under the...
1365Hugh Hill to Abigail Adams, 16 April 1782 (Adams Papers)
Yours I reseved this morning and I asner you madam that twenty five Guines is the Costomry Pasage that is payd too or from uerap I apeled to Captn. Dixey that Comanded a ship of Mr. Treaseys in bilbao wher I was: You will ples to Draw me a set of bils at the present Discount Which is fiften pr cent and fored them to Captn. Job Prince: four Sets the Som is thirty Nin pounds at ten Dayes Sight...
1366John Adams to Abigail Adams, 29 June 1769 (Adams Papers)
I embrace with Joy, this Opportunity of writing you. Mr. Langdon, who is to be the Bearer, was so good as to call this Morning, to know if I had any Letters to send. You’l therefore of Course, treat him civilly and give him Thanks. We are now but beginning the Business of Falmouth Court. The Weather has been for three days, so hot, as to render the Business of the Court very irksome, indeed,...
1367John Adams to Abigail Adams, 16 December 1779 (Adams Papers)
Last night We all arrived in this Place from Ferrol. The Distance is about twenty miles by Land over high Mountains and bad Roads. You would have been diverted to have seen Us all mounted upon our Mules and marching in Train. From the Mountains We had all along the Prospect of a rich fertile Country, cultivated up to the Tops of the highest Hills and down to the very edge of Water all along...
1368Elbridge 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...
1369Abigail Adams Smith to Abigail Adams, 27 March 1792 (Adams Papers)
I this day received your Letter of the 23 d inst and was rejoiced once more to see your own hand writing— I have for some time feared that you were more indisposed than you would permit me to be informed of, I have suffered much anxiety on your account— inded my hands head and heart have been fully employed since I left you the former in preparing for my voyage and the latter by the...
1370John Adams to Abigail Adams, 1 January 1779 (Adams Papers)
I wish you an happy new Year, and many happy Years—and all the Blessings of Life. Who knows but this Year may be more prosperous for our Country than any We have seen. For my own Part I have hopes that it will. Great Blessings are in store for it, and they may come this Year as well as another. You and I however must prepare our Minds to enjoy the Prosperity of others not our own. In Poverty...
1371Susanna Clarke Copley to Abigail Adams, 15 November 1794 (Adams Papers)
I am happy in this opportuntity of thanking you for your kind favor by your sons: whom it gave me great pleasure to meet, and to be particularly infomed of your welfare; as well as that of the rest of your Family, which Blessings I most sincerely hope you and they may long enjoy, and that while you are called to Make so great a sacrafise as the parting with so dear connections will occation,...
1372John Adams to Abigail Adams, 15 October 1777 (Adams Papers)
I have not been able of late to keep up my Correspondence with you, so constantly, as my Heart inclined me to do. But I hope now to write you oftener—but I dont incline to write, very particularly, least my Letters should be intercepted. I am in tolerable Health, but oppressed, with a Load of public Cares. I have long foreseen, that We should be brought down to a great Degree of Depression...
1373John Russell to Abigail Adams, 6 December 1798 (Adams Papers)
The Letter which you so obligingly communicated, is this day published in the Commercial Gazette; and I have endeavoured to make its insertion accurate and perspicuous. The original is enclosed according to your directions. You will, I hope, pardon me for the liberty I am about to take, in requesting the honor of your commands in future, upon any similar occasion. Well knowing my duty in this...
1374John Adams to Abigail Adams, 19 January 1779 (Adams Papers)
I can only tell you that I am not well. A bad Cold only. The others are all well. Not a Word of News from any Part. None from America a long time, i.e. since Mr. Cheever and Sears sailed. None from Congress this Age. Mr. Gridley, Cheever and Sears, brought me only a Line from your Uncle and a Duplicate from Mr. Cushing. These I answered before. RC ( Adams Papers ); addressed: “Mrs. Adams.” The...
1375Thomas Jefferson to Abigail Adams, 30 August 1787 (Adams Papers)
I have omitted writing sooner to you in expectation that Colõ Smith would have taken this in his route: but receiving now information from him that he embarks from Lisbon, I avail myself of the opportunity by mr̃ Payne of thanking you for the disbursements you were so kind as to make for my daughter in London, and of stating to you our accounts as follows. £ s d Disbursements of mrs Adams as...
1376John Adams to Abigail Adams, 15 September 1780 (Adams Papers)
I wish you to write me, by every Opportunity to this Place, as well as to France. It seems as if I never should get any more Letters from America. I have sent you some Things by Captn. Davis, but he has no Arms, and I fear they will be lost, by Capture.—I sent Things by the Alliance. The Country where I am is the greatest Curiosity in the World. This Nation is not known any where, not even by...
1377John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 5 December 1789 (Adams Papers)
No, my dear Madam, I have not tasted of the waters of Lethe, nor have the Laws of Nature, been obliterated from my heart, by too close an attention to those of Nations. The reasons which have hitherto prevented me from writing since I left you, are various; but would not be very interesting in the detail, for which reason I shall, omit the unnecessary tediousness of a justification, and offer...
1378John Adams to Abigail Adams, 16 October 1782 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday arrived your kind Letters of the 3 and 5 of september. I am preparing to sett off tomorrow Morning for Paris, so that I am unable to write you more than a Line. Your Proposal of coming to me would make me the happiest of Men, if it were probable that I should live here where I am well settled. But, if the Negotiations for Peace should take a serious Turn, I shall be obliged to live...
1379From Thomas Jefferson to Abigail Adams, 30 August 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I have omitted writing sooner to you in expectation that Colo. Smith would have taken this in his route: but receiving now information from him that he embarks from Lisbon, I avail myself of the opportunity by Mr. Payne of thanking you for the disbursements you were so kind as to make for my daughter in London, and of stating to you our accounts as follows. £ s d Disbursements of Mrs. Adams...
1380Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 19 October 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favors of the 10 th: & 12 th: inst ts: and am highly gratified by their contents; excepting the bill of health, which is less cheering than I could wish it might have been. I have been so occupied with attendance upon Courts and writing to my correspondents in Europe, during the last ten days, that I have not found time to write you; & the expectation of William’s...
1381John Adams to Abigail Adams, 21 April 1796 (Adams Papers)
This Day seven Years I first took my seat in Senate and I hope I shall not sit there seven Years longer. The H. continues constant—some Conjecture that by one means or another they will comply after sometime: but I see no present appearance of it. I pray with you for the Prosperity of Zion but that is all I can do. The Town of Boston is under a bad Influence in the Hands of unwise and I fear...
1382John Adams to Abigail Adams, 2 October 1778 (Adams Papers)
This goes by Captn. McNeil, who is an Adventurous Cruiser. It is not safe to write much by him. If Expressions of Tenderness, were necessary my Heart is full enough to write a great many. I send some Letters from Johnny, who intended to have written to his Brothers and indeed has written but there is not time to copy them. I think, that the Distance of Place, and the present perfect security...
1383Mercy Otis Warren to Abigail Adams, 25 February 1775 (Adams Papers)
I had the pleasure of hearing Yesterday by a transient person that my much Esteemed friend Mrs. Adams was well. I wish she had been kind Enough to have put a line into his Hand for me who is always highly gratified with Every such intimation of friendship from those she loves. I thank you for the Letter I Received by Mr. Warren, and for the Copy of a very agreable one to a Distinguished Lady...
1384John Thaxter to Abigail Adams, 17 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
I was made happy this day by the Receipt of your esteemed favor of the 2d. of March. You say, that in the seperation of near Friends, You have ever thought the person left at Home the greatest Sufferer, and that anticipated Evils have often as much Power over the Mind as real ones. This Observation is the Result of that extream Sensibility of which You are possessed, and which has been but too...
1385William Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams, 11 February 1799 (Adams Papers)
With this I send you two more copies of the dispatches— A defence of the Alien & sedition bills Divernois letter, Giffords address to the Loyal association &c the pamphlet setting forth the pernicious effects of stage plays. The last mentioned pamphlet was sent to the president the night after he went to the theatre and another quaker sent two more the Evening after.— they are grieved to the...
1386John Adams to Abigail Adams, 8 March 1794 (Adams Papers)
Your Favours of Feb. 26 and Feb. (blank) arrived not till last night. They deserve my best Thanks on all accounts. They are full of Entertainment and Instruction. S. is as Slippery as an Eel: He is not worth quarrelling with: but certainly is not to be trusted:— His Treaty with Spain is a great Curiosity. I am really at a loss to guess, whether it was Ignorance or Impudence. He has so much of...
1387Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 7 January 1798 (Adams Papers)
I design’d to have written you by the friday mail but on Wednsday mr Norton came over to attend Abdys funeral (he dy’d on monday) & brought a chaise to take me back to spend a few days at weymouth. mr cranch went that morning to Boston So I thought I would go & return as soon as he would. but I was caught in a Snow Storm the first of any value we have had— by it I lost my chance of writing to...
1388John Adams to Abigail Adams, 2 May 1777 (Adams Papers)
We have promoted Arnold, one Step this day, for his Vigilance, Activity, and Bravery, in the late Affair at Connecticutt. —We shall make Huntingdon a Brigadier, I hope. We shall sleep in a whole Skin for some Time I think in Philadelphia, at least untill a strong Reinforcement arrives. I want to learn, where Sir William Erskine with his Two Thousand Men, went after his Exploit at...
1389Elizabeth Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams, 24 January 1795 (Adams Papers)
I have had a very bad cold, attended with some other complaints which have enfeebled me, & made me look quite sick, for a fortnight I dare not go out of door, but I am now much better— The body, & the Mind are so nearly connected that the one cannot suffer without the other. To the indisposition of the former, would I attribute a certain depression of Spirits which has troubled me for some...
1390Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody to Abigail Adams, 16 February 1799 (Adams Papers)
My little Abby—has been sick with a slow intermitting fever, occasioned by a cold—which has thrown many round us into fevers— The Dr has just been here, & says that disorders opperate strangely, many whom he thought out of danger, are seized again—Some in their heads, lungs, & several have died with repeated voilent billious cholicks—but we have not lost any one in the Town as yet— It has been...
1391Elbridge Gerry to Abigail Adams, 14 July 1797 (Adams Papers)
I am honored by your letter of the 8 th , & am much obliged to you for the kind interest you have manifested in my concerns; & for the communications contained in the letter & documents. Whatever may have been the reasons which induced some of the senators to vote against me, if they were influenced by a due regard to the publick welfare, & their opinions in this instance were even erroneous,...
1392Elizabeth Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams, 4 January 1784 (Adams Papers)
I received Yours, last Friday just as We were siting down to dinner, favoured by Mr. Ludden. We mortified our bodily appetite for a few moments, for the sake of gratifying our mental—and I assure you we found it an agreeable Repast, notwithstanding it informed us of your Reheumatism for which we are sorry, Tommy and I more espicially. I confess it was not written in the spirit, and humour of a...
1393John Adams to Abigail Adams, 6 July 1774 (Adams Papers)
Our J ustic e H utchinso n is eternally giving his Political Hints. In a Cause, this Morning, Somebody named Captn. Mackay as a Refferee. I said “an honest Man!”—“Yes” says H utchinso n, “he’s an honest Man, only misled. —He he he,” blinking, and grinning.—At Dinner, to day, Somebody mentioned Determinations in the Lords House (the Court sitts in the Meeting House).—“I’ve known many very bad...
1394Cotton Tufts to Abigail Adams, 25 February 1800 (Adams Papers)
Your last of Jan y 9 th. I receiv’d with the enclosure, since that very little has been heard off but Processionls, Funeral Elogies, Orations & Discourses on the Death of Genl Washington. Indeed it has been carried to an Excess, in some Instances too much bordering on Idolatry and been attended with an enormous Expence of Time— Had one Day every where been devoted to a public Expression of...
1395John Adams to Abigail Adams, 17 May 1776 (Adams Papers)
I have this Morning heard Mr. Duffil upon the Signs of the Times. He run a Parrallell between the Case of Israel and that of America, and between the Conduct of Pharaoh and that of George. Jealousy that the Israelites would throw off the Government of Egypt made him issue his Edict that the Midwives should cast the Children into the River, and the other Edict that the Men should make a large...
1396John Adams to Abigail Adams, 19 January 1777 (Adams Papers)
There is too much Ice in Hudsons River to cross it in Ferry Boats and too little to cross it, without, in most Places, which has given Us the Trouble of riding up the Albany Road as far as this Place, where We expect to go over on the Ice, but if We should be dissappointed here, We must go up as far as Esopus about fifteen miles farther. This, as well as Fish-kill is a pretty Village. We are...
1397Charles Storer to Abigail Adams, 13 April 1786 (Adams Papers)
What in the name of wonder can you be doing on your side the Atlantic? We hear no more of you than if you were in the regions above the Moon. It is not to be long so I hope, for we are become very impatient now for news. Here, we seem to be almost at a stand, as it were; waiting for good tidings from afar. I fancy the case is much the same with you. With this I send you some newspapers, which...
1398John Adams to Abigail Adams, 5 December 1792 (Adams Papers)
last night I arrived at Philadelphia in tolerable Health and found our Friends all well. I have concluded to accept of the kind offer of Mr and M rs Otis and taken a bed in their House. Thomas is charmingly accommodated and is very well. This Day decides whether I shall be a Farmer or a Statesman after next March. They have been flickering in the Newspapers and caballing in Parties: but how...
1399Mercy Otis Warren to Abigail Adams, 9 August 1774 (Adams Papers)
I Returned yesterday from a Visit to my Venerable Father, and on our arival at our own Habitation we met the tidings that the Royal signet was affixed to those acts which are designed to perpetuate the thraldom of America: and perticulerly the Massachusets. I think the appointment of the new counsel is the last comic scene we shall see Exhibite’d in the state Farce which has for several years...
1400John 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...