91Esther Duncan Black to Abigail Adams, 7 May 1798 (Adams Papers)
I am unable to find language to express my Gratitude and thankfullness to you—for your maternal Care of the Dear little orphan whose life we owe to your uncommon resolution and perseverance— I think if you had not taken care of it, it would have Dyed a more dreadfull death and a more melancholy death than if it been taken away with the smallpox or yellowfever— it is said them that will give a...
92William Cranch to Abigail Adams, 8 May 1798 (Adams Papers)
It has not been from want of the most affectionate Respect that I have suffer’d your kind letter by M r. White to remain so long unanswer’d. The sickness and death of a late worthy friend of mine, M r. James Cook of Georgetown, and the business which has fallen into my hands in Consequence of that Event, have occupied my whole attention and must be my apology. M r. Cook was about my Age, and...
93Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 10 May 1798 (Adams Papers)
I can never sufficiently thank you for your Letters & the communications you so frequently Supply me with I am considered as the fountain head from whence truth is to be looked for. I have read parts of your Letters till I have them by heart & can preach very well without notes now— wherever I go I am Scarcly welcome without I bring my pocket full of Letters— I was last week Several days in...
94George Cabot to Abigail Adams, 11 May 1798 (Adams Papers)
I feel too sensibly the obligations you have laid me under by the letters you had the goodness to write on the 3 d & 4 th. — they deserve a better return than it is possible for me to make; while I can only offer the effusions of a grateful heart I see too plainly that those alone wou’d not be acceptable— you require a Serious engagement on my part which I am forbidden to make by motives that...
95Hannah Adams to Abigail Adams, 12 May 1798 (Adams Papers)
My knowledge of your condescension and goodness emboldens me to address you at present. I have at length prepared my History of New-England for the press, in which I have mentioned your illustrious partner as one of the first and most active promoters of the declaration of Independence. I have given a sketch of his speech on that important occasion from Ramsay. the whole is not inserted in any...
96Cotton Tufts to Abigail Adams, 12 May 1798 (Adams Papers)
Since the last Letter I rec d from you dated April 12 th poor Sukey compleated the Journey of Life and is gone to the World of Spirits through the whole of her Sickness, few have exhibited a greater Degree of Firmness, Patience & Submission to the divine Will, She has left us the consoling Hope of her enjoying a blessed Immortality— M rs. Tufts by her long attendance upon her seems to be much...
97Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody to Abigail Adams, 15 May 1798 (Adams Papers)
Though the kind remembrance I have of my Sister is imprinted upon my heart, as with a point of a diamond, & can never be erased while vital spirits remain, yet I know not when I have written to her.— The cares & anxieties, the hopes, & the fears, that I should do too much, or not enough for my poor Betsy, I did not wish to trouble you with, or to tell you that my mind has been so agitated...
98Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 18 May 1798 (Adams Papers)
I too have taken my pen with the rising Sun. I have been so disturb’d with the account of the allarming riot before your Door on the fast day evening that I have not had a moments quiet sleep this night. I had no Idea the faction would have tried their Strength So oppenly I suppos’d the Letters which had been thrown into your house were mear threats. but I hope they have but Staid their time—...
99William Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams, 20 May 1798 (Adams Papers)
Saturday April 21 st , I received yours of the 9 th . I wrote to you the 1 st of April in answer to yours of March 20 th , which before this you must have received, and shall always esteem my letters of inestimable value, so long as they purchase yours. The excellent pamphlet you sent me I thank you. The sentiment it contains—the spirit with which it is written prove to me, that the author...
100Susanna Warner Tufts to Abigail Adams, 22 May 1798 (Adams Papers)
The recipt of your affectionate and friendly letter my dear Madam Claims at once my gratitude and love.— how good is that heart that feels for others woes Such is yours,—and may Heaven bless you with health and long life, and may you still Continue to fill every Station of Life that Providence shall Call you to with that dignity humanity and sensibility which has ever been your Characteristick...
101Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 25 May 1798 (Adams Papers)
Vanity of vanity! & the conseiquenc of it is vexation of Spirit— who ever is inclin’d to live beyond their income let them enter the House where plenty hospitality & an appearence of wealth used to be display’d at the moment the mask is fallen of, & they will behold a Scene of distress & woe enough to tear the heart of love & Friendship I have long Suspected Doctor Welsh’s affairs were...
102Francis Dana to Abigail Adams, 27 May 1798 (Adams Papers)
In my letter of the 27 th. of last Dec r: I took the liberty thrô you to recommend my friend Major John Hobby of Portland to some appointment in the stamp department of the revenue but I find that business has been annexed to an existing office. I have now to solicit for him one which probably will take place soon, I mean that of a purchasing & issuing commissary for the troops which are to be...
103Esther Duncan Black to Abigail Adams, 28 May 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have the happiness to inform my invaluable friend mrs Adams of the safe arrival of her precious little ward the had a long passage of 12 days but the Nurse nor Children were not sick and Naby was only one day very sick the babe did not appear fatigued with the voyage but is very much tanned which I think must Conceal some of her beauty. she is very lively and is grown very fond to have me...
104Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 28 May 1798 (Adams Papers)
I yesterday receiv’d your kind Letter of the 18th my Sons & mrs Johnson to you. you cannot think my Sister how much pleasure they gave me. I had one also from Nancy informing me that her Richard was broke out with the Small Pox & was like to do very well. he had about fifty Pustles & had been very Sick for two days before he broke out. mrs Cranch had inform’d me before of mr Johnsons...
105John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 30 May 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have received within these few days your letters of the 17 th: and 29 th: of March, together with the books and pamphlets mentioned in the former. The last was forwarded to me from England by M r: King, and at the same time one from the Secretary of State of the 10 th: ult o: — I had long been without letters, and they have now been pouring in by floods at once. I have written to you and...
106Jeremy Belknap to Abigail Adams, 30 May 1798 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday morning I had the honour of writing to the President & enclosing my fast Sermon. At noon, I had the very great pleasure of voting for him as President of the Academy to which office he was re-elected unanimously; & before night I received your very obliging favour of the 24 th with the Books & the extract, for which I return you my cordial thanks. As I had not seen Robinsons work...
107Stephen Peabody to Abigail Adams, 30 May 1798 (Adams Papers)
Your letters of the 18 th. of last December, and the 4 th. of March following, with the contents, came safe to my hand. I should have acknowledged the receipt of them sooner, but I have been “ Cumbered about many things ” and knowing that your Sister had informed you of their safe arrival, I have neglected to write answers. Tho’ this is but a poor apology, it is the best I can make, consistent...
108William Cranch to Abigail Adams, 4 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
I should have answer’d your kind letter of 16 th. ult o. before this time, but I have only this morning return’d from the General Court at Annapolis. I thank you most sincerely for the interest you take in my affairs, and for the parental advice you have given. I have already suffer’d enough by becoming surety for others, to know how to prize that advice, but it requires a kind of hardness of...
109Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 10 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have at last heard from atkinson I had just Sent a long Letter to sister when I receiv’d one from her & another from Cousin Betsy— Sister is full of anxiety about her Daughter & well she may be—for by both the letters I think her in a fix’d consumtion— her cough is better but her Fever runs high & She has night Sweats & is So weak she can ride but a few miles in a day. Cousin Betsy Says She...
110John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 11 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
Three more letters from you of 3. 4. and 13. April, brought to England by M r Thornton, have just this moment come to hand, together with a pamphlet or two.— The message to Congress of 3. April together with all the documents accompanying it, have been published in London, from whence I have received them as mentioned in a former letter. They were received from Philadelphia by the Directory on...
111Louisa Catherine Adams to Abigail Adams, 12 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
After having so long delayed to answer your very affectionate letter I feel perfectly ashamed of making any excuse as I am consious it is not in my power to make a proper one I must therefore rely upon your known indulgence and in future be more careful— Our jouney from Hamburg was extremely unpleasant the roads were very bad and I was in constant dread of our being overset but fortunately we...
112Thomas Welsh to Abigail Adams, 13 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
I enclose a Duplicate of a Letter which I have lately received from M r Adams. I have not heared of an House which would agree with the discription but if I had the Course of Exchange is so much against Holland, that I should not think of doing any thing at present. M r Smith has informed me of the Proposal for my Son Thomas to go to Berlin to relieve M r Thomas B Adams. as M r Smith has...
113Jeremy Belknap to Abigail Adams, 14 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
As the extract which you marked in y r Son’s letter was too long for one paper I divided it & gave one half to Benj n & the other half to John Russell, the latter part appears in the Commercial Gazette of this day, the former I hope will come out on Saturday. I have read Robisons Conspiracy with astonishment, it contains the seeds of all the mischiefs which we have been tormented with for...
114William Cranch to Abigail Adams, 14 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have just closed a letter to the Pres t. on the subject of my Bro r. Greenleaf.— I do not know whether I have not said too much, but if I had not been restrained by a sense of Propriety I should have beg’d & pleaded that he might have some appointment or other. I consider him as a man of uncommon abilities and attention to Business, & he has no means of exercising his Talents at present,...
115Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 15 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have been at hard work this morning & my hands tremble So, I can Scarcly hold my Pen, but if I do not write now I may be hindred as I was last post day & So not finish my letter to send till too late I was in the chaise for Boston Yesterday at 5. a clock. I found my Friends well, & Doctors Welsh’s Family gratified by your attention to Thomas. mr Smith Was bound for the payment of Tomas’...
116John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 22 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
Since the date of my last I have received your favour of 8. April, with the pamphlets mentioned in it.— The communications of the American Commissioners have resounded through every part of Europe, and produced a very sensible impression in the public opinion with regard to the characters exposed in them.— An attempt at defence has been made, by a publication in the official newspaper of the...
117George Cabot to Abigail Adams, 22 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
I did not indulge the expectation that I Shoud wholly escape reproach when I had the honor to write you on the 11 th of last month— your condescention (not to say partiality) had placed me in a dilemma from which even your own goodness cou’d not entirely extricate me— I resolved however to merit the continuance of your Esteem & therefore at once discarded all private considerations & listened...
118Mary 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...
119Francis Dana to Abigail Adams, 23 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
While on the circuit here, I have received the enclosed letter from my friend M r: Stedman of Lancaster, brother in law to M rs: Dana— Finding that the Gentleman mentioned in it, is personally known to the President & yourself, and has been likewise recommended by Judge Cranch, it is altogether needless for me to trouble you further than by laying that letter before you— Indeed I am loth to do...
120Rebecca Leppington Hurd to Abigail Adams, 26 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
If, Madam, I still retain a Place in your esteem, (and I am not conscious that I have ever forfeited it) let me Solicit your kind interposition in behalf of an Application made by M r Hurd in a letter to the President for the loan Office now Vacant by the decease of M r Appleton. Shoud M r H be thought properly qualified, by the President, for this Office, he wou’d endeavor to merit it by a...