31Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 21 October 1802 (Adams Papers)
I have at length returned to the City for the purpose of remaining in it during the rest of the Season. We do not yet pretend to be free from cases of autumnal fever, which have been particularly malignant and fatal; but those, who, like myself, are believers in domestic origin, may return without apprehension. From my brother I have had accounts, from time to time, of the health of our family...
32Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 30 November 1802 (Adams Papers)
The Eastern Mail brought your letter of the 23 d: this morning. The business part of it stands thus. D r: Woodhouse has been in the habit of putting up chemical equipage at various prices, and when our friend Quincy wrote for one, last year I communicated the order to the D r: Professor himself, who promised to attend to it. This promise no doubt escaped his memory, as he has since been twice...
33Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 5 January 1803 (Adams Papers)
I received, yesterday, your favor of the 27 th: ult. and thank you, for the wholesome admonitions, it contains. Your advice will always receive due attention, both from myself and our friend. When you shall have received and perused, the concluding numbers of the Port Folio, & taken with you the consideration of the extreme rapidity with which they were published, I think you will discover...
34Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 12 January 1803 (Adams Papers)
Since I am embarked in a very doubtful speculation, and I am ready to own, that I am by no means sanguine as to its success, yet as I am assured of your good will and best wishes towards the promotion of our interest, you must also indulge me in one request I have to make, which is to leave off croaking , which you know I never could endure, not because I could not appretiate the use and the...
35Thomas Boylston Adams to John Adams, 18 January 1803 (Adams Papers)
I lately enclosed you a prospectus of the Rev d Doctor Smith’s works accompanied by a print of the Author, which I sent rather as a specimen of good American Engraving, than on any other account; although as a subscriber to the work, which will ere long be published, you might wish to posses so striking a likeness of the Author. I sent the print and prospectus without any knowledge of M r:...
36Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 25 January 1803 (Adams Papers)
I do not intend to write you very often, though I find it impossible to refrain altogether. Your last, is of the 10 th: inst t: but a subsequent enclosure has been received, which gave great joy to our trusty and well-beloved O.O. A second sheet is wished, before the publication commences, lest the thread should be broken. As yet you will not expect any very brilliant account of success,...
37Thomas Boylston Adams to John Adams, 25 February 1803 (Adams Papers)
Your two letters on La Harpe, I have taken the liberty to publish in the Port Folio, and I have now to ask the favor of you, as your leisure & inclination may serve, to pursue your extracts & comments upon any portion of that great work, which you may find agreeable or think useful. I make this request in behalf of the Editor of the Port Folio, who will be flattered & obliged by any literary...
38Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 10 March 1803 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favors of the 18 th: ult: and 2 d: instant, the latter enclosing a valuable communication from my father; for which please to express my thanks. I have taken note of those “thoughts on the times,” and will make use of them. I hope M r: Ames , will continue to expand his thoughts on those topics. The Port Folio begins to get into some favor all over the Country, and the...
39Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 30 June 1803 (Adams Papers)
Your favor of the 20 th: inst: came to hand yesterday, in the condition, which you have the cover here enclosed, except that the wax was not broken. By some means or other, the packet was sent on to Washington , and the name of J. Adams. on the back of it, must have excited the curiosity of some body, who from appearances, took the very excusable liberty, in this free country, to inspect its...
40Thomas Boylston Adams to William Smith Shaw, 31 August 1803 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of the 24 th: is before me, and I most ardently hope the information respecting the prospect of my mother’s recovery may not prove delusive. I expected a letter from my brother by this day’s mail, but am disappointed. My suspence & anxiety have been extreme for ten days past, and nothing but your letter, which assures me, that my mother was considerably better, has relieved my...
41Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 15 December 1803 (Adams Papers)
I reached Boston on Saturday Evening the 10 th: inst: and came out to Quincy on Sunday afternoon, with Cousin Shaw— Our parents are well; my Mother is wonderfully recovered, and seems to me to be as active & busy as ever about her family— this is a great comfort to me, and will help to render solitude in some measure supportable. to me. I feel, that there will be ample time to reflect on my...
42Thomas Boylston Adams to William Meredith, 8 February 1804 (Adams Papers)
On the 3 d inst: I enclosed to you, Bank Notes of various descriptions, amounting to two hundred and ninety dollars, accompanied by a letter of advice as to the disposal of the money. I hope you will receive it and apply it as requested. I have, since I left your City, been leading a desultory, or as Joe says, a miscellaneous life, and have therefore collected very little information worthy of...
43Thomas Boylston Adams to William Meredith, 22 April 1804 (Adams Papers)
I received yesterday your favor of the 15 th: and thank you for your attention to my Commissions. The Books, I believe, had best be sold, as you suggest, at Auction, and to the highest bidder. I shall regret the sacrifice of the folio Edition of the laws, because they have been heretofore in great demand, and in time, would probably sell for a just price, but I must forego the benefit of a...
44Thomas Boylston Adams to Thomas Cadwalader, 26 July 1804 (Adams Papers)
I had for sometime contemplated offering you my congratulations on the auspicious event of your marriage, before the authentic annunciation of it, under your own hand. I noticed, with very lively pleasure this accession to the fund of happiness, which, if the wishes of friendship can [avail,] will be as inexhaustible as the Bank of my friends personal merits. You have been as prompt to...
45Thomas Boylston Adams to James Sullivan, 23 October 1804 (Adams Papers)
Having waited some time in expectation of an answer to the last proposal, which I had the honor to submit to your consideration relative to the settlement of the dispute between the proprietors of the Middlesex Canal Company & the owners of the Teel farm at Medford, I am induced once more to call the attention of the Gentlemen of the Committee to this subject. The Season is already so far...
46From Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 17 November 1804 (Adams Papers)
I received to day your favor of the 7th: inst: covering the journal & Speech not spoken—since which I have had no time to read either—Parson Bentley’s promotion is to me by no means unaccountable—I heard something, by going to Salem so often last winter—If you like to hear a very familiar conversation between a frail mortal and infinite wisdom, listen to the prayers of this “no God or twenty...
47From Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 6 December 1804 (Adams Papers)
Your letter of the 26th: is So copiously answered that I shall reserve my fire for a future occasion, when I hope to be better able to write than I am now. I have been seized furiously by the Nose within a few days, by a fretful & provoking tumour, which has made me fell more indisposed than I have for a twelvemonth. It has distorted my face rather unluckily, just at this time, & moreover so...
48From Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 23 December 1804 (Adams Papers)
I did not think to receive a reply to my letter of the 2d: instant, before I had the Mail charged with another and on the way to Washington. Yet so it is, and I am now to acknowledge your favor of the 13th: which came to hand yesterday with enclosures The Journals of the H. R. I have received to No 14 inclusive & but three sheets of the journal of Senate. Bills, Messages & Reports, in...
49From Thomas Boylston Adams to William Smith Shaw, 24 April 1805 (Adams Papers)
I want the form of a petition to be presented to the Court of Sessions, praying for a Committee to be appointed to assess damages, in case of property damaged by the proprietors of the Middlesex Canal—If you can not find a form, this side of Cambridge, you must go there and obtain one from the Clerks Office of the Sessions, where I presume you will find some on file— Our Petition must be...
50From Thomas Boylston Adams to William Smith Shaw, 5 September 1805 (Adams Papers)
Next Monday (the 9th: currt) the Court of Sessions sit at Concord for the County of Middlesex—I have made a draft of a petition to be presented for a Committee to be appointed to appraise damages for the proprietors of Medford farm—Can you go there and present it—if not I will send it to my friend Danl. Adams of Hopkinton as I cannot go myself on account of its being so near last of service...
51From Thomas Boylston Adams to Thomas Cadwalader, 19 February 1806 (Adams Papers)
I have just now, upon my return from Boston, found your letter of the 9th: instant, disclosing to me an enterprize in which you contemplate embarking, as an Associate with Dr Rose, a Gentleman of whom you have heretofore Spoken advantageously in your letters to me. At the same time you have proposed to me an Agency to obtain for you in this quarter, purchasers and Settlers of the land which is...
52From Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 9 April 1806 (Adams Papers)
Supposing that you will be at Washington long enough to receive a letter from this place before your departure I shall venture to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of the 19th: ult: to inform you of the health of both your children, as also of your friends at Quincy, who are looking with pleasure for your return, and who hope the cause of your leaving your wife behind you will terminate in...
53From Thomas Boylston Adams to William Meredith, 27 June 1806 (Adams Papers)
I suppose you have condoled and sympathized with me, like many other’s of my friends, upon the reputed death of my wife. Should this have been the case, I owe you my acknowledgments, but it is far more grateful to my feelings, that it is yet in my power to assure you that this calamity has not overtaken me, altho’ it has lately befallen a namesake of mine who is a kinsman and an inhabitant of...
54From Thomas Boylston Adams to William Meredith, 30 July 1806 (Adams Papers)
Your very friendly letter of the 8th: instant came to hand on the 16th: and I have with some impatience waited the arrival of a little stranger, whose advent has been delayed a full month , that I might have the pleasure, in my reply, of announcing to you & your good lady similar tidings to those communicated by you. I have a Daughter for your son, provided you Should approve the Alliance, and...
55From Thomas Boylston Adams to William Smith Shaw, 3 August 1806 (Adams Papers)
I have received a letter from my friend Dr: Chapman, informing me of his intention to compile in a series of volumes the best of the modern Orations, both forensic and parliamentary with brief remarks illustrative of each case. He wishes to know if my father’s library contains the Speech of the late Lord Littleton on the Canada-bill, Charles Townshend’s on raising a Revenue in America, so...
56From Thomas Boylston Adams to William Meredith, 2 September 1806 (Adams Papers)
Accept my best thanks for the Volume of Moore’s fugitive poems, which accompanied your letter of the 23d: ult: It is the more acceptable, as it completes my set of his works, the former of which, were presented me, by S. Ewing. As specimens of perfection in the style of printing books, in your City, they are far superiour to any I have ever seen; but of their contents, I am truly not...
57From Thomas Boylston Adams to Thomas Cadwalader, 6 December 1806 (Adams Papers)
It is not my practice to omit altogether, however I may sometimes unreasonably, postpone the acknowledgment of a business letter; and I am not a little surprized to find a letter of this description from you upon my file of unanswered communications. The only reason I can assign for this neglect is such as will hardly pass for an excuse, so that I shall throw myself upon your clemency without...
58From Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 28 December 1806 (Adams Papers)
The trial of Mr. Selfridge begun on Tuesday last and finished on Friday. I attended nearly the whole time and as it may be some time before the trial will be published, it may be interesting to you to learn some of the particulars from a Spectator. The evidence on the part of the Defendant was opened by Mr: Gore in a very handsome style and the law as applicable to the facts which he expected...
59From Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 8 February 1807 (Adams Papers)
When Sunday comes I usually enquire whether I have any arrearges to make up with my correspondents; if I have, it is to me the most convenient season for discharging such debts. Though I have, at present, no letter unacknowledged, I have a variety of documents and journals from you, which deserve mention, because they serve as a substitute in some degree for letters, which we know you have not...
60From Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 5 November 1807 (Adams Papers)
Your letter from Washington of the 27th: ult: to our dear Mother, came to hand this day; and as She was in Boston, we had the first perusal of it. We learn from it with much pleasure your Safe arrival at the end of your journey and that you and yours are in good health. In return for this intelligence I am happy to be able to acquaint you with the health of all our friends here and your...