I can hardly believe, that such a length of time has elapsed since I have written, or heard from you; be assured, I should not have remained so long silent, but through necessity; for the last three weeks, I have been deprived of the use of my right hand, by a violent attack of the Rheumatism which settled there, and has rendered me absolutely useless. I have thought constantly of you, and...
12From Abigail Smith Adams to Sarah Smith Adams, 20 May 1816 (Adams Papers)
I have hoped to hear from you by every post, and to learn how your Health is. I have not heard from the valley Since the 22nd of April. William’s account then of his Fathers Health left me anxious for him. he wrote me, that as soon as his Father was able, he designd taking a house, or lodging at Utica. he will then be near to you, and in the midst of a society, which may enable him to recover...
13From Charles Thomas Clark to Sarah Smith Adams, 20 May 1816 (Adams Papers)
You will (I hope) excuse me for addressing you openly and without preamble when informed of the subject—of the most interesting moment in the concerns of mankind. What I anxiously hope and now presume to ask for is no less than the hand of your daughter in marriage. A constant wish to appreciate justly a sincere and firm attachment returned, will be the unceasing spur to every exertion to...
I enclose a letter from Mr Clark to you, which he gave me yesterday. May we hope for your approbation and blessing? it is a subject, which I cannot write upon, at present. I feel very anxious to hear from you, my dear Parent and may your precious life be prolonged many years, to witness the happiness of your children. Most tenderly you daughter NIC .
Your two kind letters of May 25th and June 1st received this morning, with the one enclosed, Oh my Dear Parent, how gratifying to me; is this assurance of your approbation, You think I have decided in favour of Mr Clark; indeed I have never given him any positive answer, but have invariably, requested him, to forbear urging me upon the subject, untill I heard more explicitly from you; Never,...
16From Abigail Smith Adams to Sarah Smith Adams, 28 July 1816 (Adams Papers)
Think not my Dear Daughter that I have been silent through want of feelings—I have sympathized with you under the repeated Shames you have been called to endure, in the last I have been no common sharer, I have wept with the relatives, over the remains of a Brave, unfortunate Benevolent Man, a kind affectionate & tender companion of her, whom he has gone to join in the World of Spirits,...
I have been expecting to hear from you every day, for this month past, but have not received a line. I have been in Boston, several weeks, and after my return was confined to the house with an inflammatory sore throat, or I should have written long before this. Mr Clark leaves us tomorrow, for Washington, and Georgetown. his Sister and Uncle reside there, and he will be absent more than a...
It seems an age, since I have written, or heard from you, and I cannot allow another post to pass, without writing. I begin to fear that some of my letters to you have miscarried, as I have lost several, very lately, owing to the negligence of the Boston postmaster. Caroline, with her husband, Child and Cousin, have been with us nearly a fortnight, the babe, is a beautiful little creature, and...
I have written three times to my Dear Mother since I received a line from her. A letter from Mrs Smith, to Caroline, this morning, informed me, that you, and Aunt Nancy, had been passing some time, at the Valley. I was rejoiced to hear, my beloved Mother, that you were so well, as to be from home, but I do most sincerely wish, I could hear from you more frequently: it is almost three months...
I recieved your very kind letter, this morning, and hasten to acknowledge it; from Mr Clark, I heard last week, his health is entirely reestablished, but he was prevented leaving Maryland by the Ice, which renders the navigation very difficult, indeed it has been entirely closed for the last two months; I hope however by this time, the fetters, which have surrounded him are dissolved, and he...