11To John Adams from Ward Nicholas Boylston, 17 August 1821 (Adams Papers)
Your kind & welcome Letter by mail of last Eveng relieved my increasing anxieties respecting the cause of your long silence, I placed it to various events, or employments but my fears suggested that you were unwell and too much indisposed even to dictate a Letter, as I knew Mr G W Adams was most probably with you—a Glimpse of relief however appear’d from what was announced in the Boston News...
12To John Adams from Ward Nicholas Boylston, 28 January 1822 (Adams Papers)
When I had the pleasure of meeting Judge Adams in Boston on Saturday last, & to whom I gave a Note wch I took out of the Post—he intimated that it was probable you would not want for a Snow Storm, but would indulge us with Happiness of seeing you & the family some day this week, wch I was rejoiced to hear, as every appearance of Snow has passed off without leaving enough to make it possible to...
13To John Adams from Ward Nicholas Boylston, 28 June 1825 (Adams Papers)
It seems an age to me , since we parted, and have not since had any accounts from those who have visited me here what has been the state of your health since that period, the best evidence I have rec’d has been thro the medium of the public News papers, in one of wch. is given the toast you sent the charitable masonic association Dinner given to Gen. LaFayette. If I can draw an Inference from...
14To John Adams from Ward Nicholas Boylston, 29 June 1823 (Adams Papers)
I lament to say, that I have been at this place two months, without a Line from you—or seeing any person, who had within that period seen you—I have some degree of pleasure in flattering myself, that you will releive my anxieties by a Letter in reply to one I wrote you a fortnight since.— The Inclosed Letter was closed to go by the Stage tomorrow morning, but Dr Thayer who preached here today...
15To John Adams from Ward Nicholas Boylston, 30 August 1824 (Adams Papers)
Your affectionate Letter of 24th Ultimo, I had the pleasure to receve and would have acknowledged before this, had not the daily interruption of accidental visitants—and likewise an injury I rec’d from a restive Horse; an injury, (which at first I tho’t trivial) has been followed by effects which threatend a speedy abruption of all my worldly schemes & desires. I am still confin’d to the House...
16To John Adams from Ward Nicholas Boylston, 17 July 1820 (Adams Papers)
I have not been so much puzzled to find the Text, I quoted in my last letter, as I have been, to get relief from a constant stricture in my breast with a severe Cough & incipient hemorhage of the lungs, which has forbidden the use of my pen; and thus my first hour of convalescence I dedicate to the gratefull acknowledgemt of your kind letter of the 16th. ultimo.— Nothing my Dear Cousin gives...
17To John Adams from Ward Nicholas Boylston, 7 August 1820 (Adams Papers)
My boasted convales’cense, did not continue but a few hours after Dr. Warren & Dr Gorham left me. To the care of the former I committed the last letter I have been able to pen, from the severity of my relapse wch. has reduced me to an extreme degree of Weakness, & for 11 Nights out of 13 I was unable to lie down & caught what repose the Intervals wou’d allow me to take, bolster’d up in a...
18To John Adams from Ward Nicholas Boylston, 27 September 1816 (Adams Papers)
Your Kind Letter of the 24th Instant did not reach my hand untill yesterday Though I knew you had a Thousand Talents, I never before disscovered you possessed that of rallery; which however late is of great advantage to me, as daily experience verifies the justice of your closeing observations and produced all the effect you intended, for neither you, or possterity, should hear more from me...
19To John Adams from Ward Nicholas Boylston, 13 April 1826 (Adams Papers)
I was made very happy in hearing by Mr G W. Adams (who was so kind as to Take his birth day dinner with us,) that you continued as well as you had been for sometime past—also that all our Friends at Washington were as we wish them in, perfect health— I have my Dear Cousin, sent another Barrell of the same Cask, from wch. the last I sent you was drawn,—if you find it as good I shall be...
20To John Adams from Ward Nicholas Boylston, 22 April 1826 (Adams Papers)
I have from day, to day, for the last fortnight flatter’d myself with an improvement, so far as to enable me to take the air, but in this I have been sadly disappointed. The utmost I have been able to do has been to walk from one Room to another, & even that with pain—my feet and ancles, being so much enlarged, tho’ I conclude in some measure from long confinement, & in some degree from the...
21To John Adams from Ward Nicholas Boylston, 19 January 1821 (Adams Papers)
I have sent my Sleigh with Bear skins, & Furs, and as the day is fine and the sleighing never better I hope you will find yourself better for a change of air, and as our Rooms are well air’d, you will find yourself as comfortably warm as you will be, in your own Room—we shall be at home to you & your own Family alone—and every thing done to make you comfortable & at your ease I have procured a...
22To John Adams from Ward Nicholas Boylston, 1 February 1821 (Adams Papers)
For such you have allowed me to call you, (the evidence of wch. I shall retain as long as I retain any thing in my possession, and, shall cherish with delight—tho’ rank’d in age with the Patriarchs of the old Testament times—Indeed I think I begin to feel the infirmities of that age by a Rheumatic afliction in both arms, both legs, & indeed universial—or you wou’d have seen me at Quincy before...
23To John Adams from Ward Nicholas Boylston, 29 April 1826 (Adams Papers)
I wrote before I left Roxbury expressing as I really felt my deep regret that I could not see you before I set out for this place—for the first since the 28’ of Jany I tried my strengh on Sunday last, but a ride of a mile wch I endured with wch the hope I should be able in the course of the week to have reachd Quincy, but the next day Tho’ Alken injured his hand so much as to render him...
24To John Adams from Ward Nicholas Boylston, 16 July 1819 (Adams Papers)
We return’d to this place the Day after we had the pleasure of seeing you at Quincey—I have seized upon every moment of leisure since to reperuse your discourses on Davila, and Letters written at Amsterdam—from both I daily derive more information and pleasure than from any thing on those subjects publish’d before, or since the Revolution,—in so much that I am astonish’d at my own stupidity in...
25To John Adams from Ward Nicholas Boylston, 29 July 1822 (Adams Papers)
How unfortunate I am, that I was not ealier informed of your magnificent intentions with respect to your establishment at Quincy—my Hundred Thousands would be some help to be sure, but a small one in comparison with the extended of the many that are to be blessed with it— But what will you say to me, when you hear of my building a large stone edifice on the summit of Wachusetts—for the...
26To John Adams from Ward Nicholas Boylston, 10 June 1820 (Adams Papers)
Your ever welcome & kind Letter of the 6th. Ultimo, did not reach me untill the 20th. since then my eyes has denied me the pleasure of acknowledeing it. What you quote as the precept of Confucius, does not apply in that Instance, to me, for I have always rec’d more gratification from you than I am able to return—and you are not able to estimate the value I put upon your kindness to judge how...
27To John Adams from Ward Nicholas Boylston, 14 June 1823 (Adams Papers)
I wrote you, for it was out of my power to see you before I left Roxbury for this place, and afterwards found my intentions of sending you some of that species of Fish you say, you are most fond of—and are only caught at one particular season—had been so far fullfilld as to be put into the Hands of a person who faithfully promised you should have them the day they were caught—I hope he...
28To John Adams from Ward Nicholas Boylston, 25 March 1817 (Adams Papers)
I rejoice in the expectation of seeing you & Mrs Adams; and Miss S A—and as the Day that is most convenient to you wou’d be most agreeble to Mrs B & myself we have settled it with Mr. Vaughan & his family for Friday the 4th. April at 1/2 past two o clock but pray you will come to us an hour or two earlier, and be so kind as to let Judge and Mrs Adams know the day fixd. My Lord tells me you...
29To John Adams from Ward Nicholas Boylston, 24 August 1819 (Adams Papers)
I have just returned from Cambridge, where I was told by by President Kirkland, that the priz is for in Elocution are to Commence at 1/2 past Nine oClock precisely instead of Eleven oClock as Mr G W Adams informed us yesterday.—I hope this alteration or any change in the Weather will not prevent your haviening the on this occasion with your company the pleasure which woud be ever gratefully...
30To John Adams from Ward Nicholas Boylston, 26 December 1824 (Adams Papers)
With deep concern I heard late last Eveng. that you had recently recieved a severe injury by a Fall as had at first appear’d to threaten your existance—I feel so much paind and anxious to know the cause as well as to hope that the effects of the injury has subsided, that I lose no time in making the enquiries, that I have sent my young man with this in the hope that I shall receive such...
31To John Adams from Ward Nicholas Boylston, 27 March 1825 (Adams Papers)
I rejoice to hear you are in better health than when I left you on Sunday Evg and earnestly hope that your approaching birth day will give a promise of greater improvement—I count with impatience the pleasure we have promised ourselves of finding our hopes confirmd— Yesterday my Nephew my Sisters only Son arrived from England by the way of Canada—with your leave, we shall bring him to pay his...
32To John Adams from Ward Nicholas Boylston, 26 August 1820 (Adams Papers)
Your affectionate Letter of the 10th. Instant, was rec’d while under a second, but more painfull relapse than the first; which reduced my Strength, flesh, & spirits so low as left me but faint hopes of recovery—I am however so far convalescent again as to walk from one Room to another & if no interveneing relapse takes place hope to be able to take the air in a few days. after a confinement to...
33To John Adams from Ward Nicholas Boylston, 21 August 1822 (Adams Papers)
When I rec’d your Letter dated from Badimage Hall, I then read it, according to the meaning of the French term—but I since find by the News paper of Saturday last, that it was in plain English—no joke—but that you have carried your truely magnificent Intention into immediate effect—the object as announced in the papers do not exactly define the purport of it as your Letter Mentions—no doubt...
34To John Adams from Ward Nicholas Boylston, 12 September 1820 (Adams Papers)
Your kind Letters are more likely to renew a worn down constitution than the recipe you give, for making my way to it by wrangling & Disputation in a Convential diet (if I should ever get there) tho I shall expect to see a good many coxcombs in politicks & constitution makers as will produce to my feelings what you describe When the yeas, & nays wch. were tried in this Town, several of the...
35To John Adams from Ward Nicholas Boylston, 12 May 1822 (Adams Papers)
Nothing but an absolute impossibility prevented my seeing you at Quincy before I we came to this place—I was obliged to Employ every moment for a fortnight before I set out in settleing some very important pecuniary demands, wch. the death of any one of the parties (of which there were 6 in number), would have defer’d a close untill after my Death—I had agencys & attornies to attend to, in...
36To John Adams from Ward Nicholas Boylston, 16 June 1826 (Adams Papers)
I am deeply sensible of all your kind feelings towards me, as express’d in your affectionate Letter of the 24th Ultimo. my wishes are in union with yours, that we were nearer each other, than we are, the sigh, is at present vain—I often contemplate a possiblity that if I sent my carriage & Thos. Alker a faithfull & well experienced driver, & you could feel strong enough to bear a ride of 10...
37To John Adams from Ward Nicholas Boylston, 28 March 1825 (Adams Papers)
Your kind letter just rec’d is a Cordial to my spirits, in the lengthend days of my confinement to a sick room since the 22d of last January, without any exercise but that of patience, under pain and debility, or even a Rocking Chair to give releif— I am now convalesing, tho’ at one time I apprehended from the attack being similar, I was soon to follow Govr Eustis & Gen Brooks—& a multitude of...
38To John Adams from Ward Nicholas Boylston, 10 July 1821 (Adams Papers)
I have been precluded an opportunity of writing, by two circumstances; one the want of eyesight, the other by a Succession of Company from various places and from various objects—we are now alone, and I devote the first interval to enquiries after your health—I have some ground to hope it has not been long interrupted, if I may judge from the very polite Letter written to a widow Lady, in the...
39To John Adams from Ward Nicholas Boylston, 12 May 1821 (Adams Papers)
It is a source of Deep regret and vexation to me, that I was obliged to leave Roxbury without seeing you again—Bad weather, Bad, & sometimes impassable Roads by repeated unusual Snow Storms, together with a Bad cold, & Rhuematic lameness, kept me a prisioner to my House untill a few days before I came to this place—and being under a previous obligation to be here from the 7th. to 12th of last...
40To John Adams from Ward Nicholas Boylston, 20 September 1822 (Adams Papers)
Nothing but the want of Sight has delay’d the acknowledgement of your most kind Letter of the 24th Ultimo—it reminded me of an Inscription Cut out of the frontace piece of a Church, I went to see at Millnor viz Full, & Intire Indulgences, Granted for all Sins, Past, Present, & to come—what can I say in return—only that it is impossible I thus can say or willingly do any thing Not for a moment,...