1231Abigail Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 5 November 1775 (Adams Papers)
I hope the Historick page will increase to a volume. Tis this hope that has kept me from complaining of my friends Laconick Epistles. Our amiable Friend, who lately favourd me with a visit, informd you I suppose of the difficulty I Labourd under, of a Whitlow upon the fore finger of my right Hand, which prevented my writing to my dearest Friend; and to her who holds one of the first places...
1232Abigail Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 1 September 1780 (Adams Papers)
From your Hospitable Mansion of Benevolence and Friendship, I reachd my own Habitation, the day I left you, and found my family well, but the Scenes arround me wore a dismal aspect—the dyeing Corn, the Barren pastures and the desolated Gardens threaten us with distress, and Hunger. Not a vine that had modestly and silently crept along the Ground unasspiring of a nearer approach to the Burning...
1233Abigail Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 17 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
You and I, my dear Madam have trod together, through one Gloomy scene, of war, havock and desolation; and we have Seen our Country rise superiour to oppression, and Despotism and take its Rank among the Nations, presenting at this period, the only spectacle , of a Free Republic, which has not been Revolutionized, by the Gormandizing and insatiable thirst of that power, which like the...
1234Abigail Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 1 October 1797 (Adams Papers)
I acknowledg myself indebted to you for two kind Letters, both of which found me in circumstances of distress; the first which came to me before I went to Philadelphia, I fully intended to have replied to at the Time, but the many cares and avocations which at that time occupied my mind, preparitory to my going, and the peculiar melancholy circumstance of the Death of my Mother and Neice...
1235Abigail Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 8 May 1776 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Morton has given me great pleasure this morning by acquainting me with the appointment of our Worthy Friend to the Bench. Have I any influence with him? If I have I beg he would accept. I know very well what he will say, but he has long been accustomed to Courts and the office he held led him to some acquaintance with Law, and his own abilities will easily qualify him to fill the place...
1236Abigail Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 5 October 1799 (Adams Papers)
The pleasing Emotions excited by the sight of a Letter, in Your Hand writing, were similar to those we experience at Meeting long absent Friends doubly endeard to us, by the perils and Dangers through which they have past. I rejoice my dear Madam that you have recoverd so much Health, as to be able to assume your pen, and Such a portion of spirits, as to discover the same flow of soul which...
1237Abigail Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 28 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
How does my Dear Mrs. Warren through a long and tedious Winter? in which I have never been honourd with a single line from her hand. Possibly she may think me underserving of her favours; I will not presume to lay claim to them upon the score of merrit, but surely she should have charitably considered my lonely State, and Brightned the Gloomy hour with the Benign Rays of her Friendship...
1238Abigail Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 5 March 1781 (Adams Papers)
Your two sons did me the favour of calling upon me yesterday morning and Breakfasting with me. The bad roads prevented their lodgeing here the Night before as they kindly intended. I was very glad to see them, and would have had them remain with me till the Storm was over, but they were apprehensive of worse weather, and chose to go on. I feel for these young Gentlemen a particular affection,...
1239Abigail Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 16 January 1803 (Adams Papers)
It was with much pleasure I recognized the Hand writing of an old Friend, tho only in the Signature of her name. it recall’d to mind those days of pleasureable intercourse, “when thought met thought,[”] and a happy union of sentiment endeard our Friendship, which neither time, or distance has effaced from my Bosom. I have sympathized with You, in sickness and in Sorrow, much oftner than my pen...
1240Abigail Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, January 1776 (Adams Papers)
Our Country is as it were a Secondary God, and the first and greatest parent. It is to be perferred to parents, to wives, children, Friends and all things the Gods only excepted. These are the considerations which prevail with me to consent to a most painfull Seperation. I have not known how to take my pen to write to you. I have been happy and unhappy. I have had many contending passions...
1241Abigail Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 25 April 1798 (Adams Papers)
I received your obliging favour of April 7 th on the 18 of this Month, for which accept my sincere thank— To hear of the Health, and Welfare, of old, and Esteemed Friends, gives pleasure to her, who sincerely rejoices, that the decline of Life, of all those, whom she highly values; is renderd agreeable by the enjoyment of Health, Peace, and Competance.— Blessing at all periods valuable but...
1242Abigail Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, January 1777 (Adams Papers)
Tis so long since I took a pen up to write a line that I fear you have thought me unmindfull of you; I should not have neglected writing to you immediately upon the receipt of your obliging favour especially as you was then under great anxiety. My Eyes ever since the small pox have been great Sufferers. Writing puts them to great pain.—I now congratulate my Friend upon the Recovery of her...
1243Abigail Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 24 July 1775 (Adams Papers)
I have been hoping every day since I received your obliging favour to get time to thank you for it, but many avocations some from company some from family affairs have prevented. I have not wrote only to my counterpart since; from whom I have received two Letters since you left me. The last was 7 of july, and wrote in better spirits than any I have received since his absence, and gave me...
1244Abigail Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 8 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
No, my dear Madam, not affronted I hope; you did not say so with a good grace, the only time I ever knew you miss it in my life. Yet by recalling your son so soon, I believe you a little out of the Way. I thought you would have spaird him longer, and given me a little time to have wrote you a Letter. Now I shall only scribble you a line, not worth your worrying your Eyes to read. You have...
1245Abigail Adams to Winslow Warren, 19 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
From the Friendship with which I have long been honourd by your Mamma, and the personal knowledge of the amiable disposition of her Son, I am led to the freedom of addressing him upon his quitting his Native land, and joining my wishes with those of his other Friends that his voyage may be fortunate and safe, and that as he becomes acquainted with other Countries he may do credit to his own,...
1246Abigail Adams to Martha Washington, 25 December 1799 (Adams Papers)
Whilst in Unison with the Sympathetic Sorrow of a Nation; I unite in Deploring the Loss; it has sustained of a Father, Friend and Benefactor. I intreeat Madam, that You would permit a Heart deeply penetrated with Your loss, and shareing Personally in Your Greif; to mingle with You the Tears which flow for the Partner of all Your joys and sorrows. Deep as the Wound You have Sustained is, and...
1247Abigail Adams to Martha Washington, 25 June 1791 (Adams Papers)
I was honourd with your much esteemed favour on the 15 of this month. the state of my Health, Body and mind suffering most Severely with repeated attacks of an intermitting fever will plead my apoligy for omitting to thank you at an earlyer date for your Friendly Letter. I have been so weakned & debilitated as to be unable to walk alone, and my Nerves so affected as to oblige me to seclude...
1248Abigail Adams to Martha Washington, 20 June 1794 (Adams Papers)
I cannot omit so good an opportunity as the present by my son of paying my respects to you, and of acknowledging the honor done him by the unsolicited appointment conferd upon him by the President at a very early period of Life I devoted him to the publick, and in the most dangerous and hazardous time of the War consented that he should accompany his Father in his embassys abroad, considering...
1249Abigail Adams to Martha Washington, [9 February 1797] (Adams Papers)
Your retirement from publick Life excite in my mind many Sensations, Some of them of a nature very different from those which I have ever before experienced. The universal satisfaction Love esteem and Respect which you have ensured from all Ranks of persons, Since you have been in publick Life and more particularly for these 8 years past when your Situation has made you more universally know...
1250Abigail Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 6 October 1782 (Adams Papers)
Your obligeing favour of Sepbr 10th was put into my hands the day before I set out upon a journey which detained me a fortnight abroad, and prevented my Reply to your kind inquiries after my absent Friends. I did as you supposed receive Letters by Capt. Grinnel one of which was dated in july; but I have the mortification to assure you sir that our common Friend did not then entertain any hopes...
1251Abigail Adams to Thomas Welsh, 22 July 1786 (Adams Papers)
I have to thank you for your very inteligent Letter of May 4, and am glad to find one writer who is not in the dismalls. Shades answer very well as a contrast to the light parts of a picture, but when it is all darkness one is apt to suppose that the painture is no artist, that he must be deficient in blending his coulours or too neglegent to procure proper material for them. That our Country...
1252Abigail Adams to Thomas Welsh, 15 November 1792 (Adams Papers)
I inclose to you a memorandum which I received from Mrs Smith, the Receit given you for the Money I have received and will forward in a Letter to mrs Copley but at the same time I wish to know how she is to come at the money lodged in the Bank. perhaps mrs Gray has taken measures for that, but as I feel myself in some degree responsible to mrs Copley I wish when I write to her & state the...
1253Abigail Adams to Thomas Welsh, 25 August 1785 (Adams Papers)
Your obliging favour of April 25 came to hand by Captain Lyde just after my arrival here. The important affairs of Court Etiquette and prepareations for shewing myself at St. James occupied my time so fully that I could not write you as I wished by Captain Dashood who saild soon after. When this great epocha of my Life was past, I had to seek a habitation and to see it put in order for my the...
1254Abigail Adams to Thomas Welsh, 6 June 1797 (Adams Papers)
We yesterday received the Centinal. I thank you for the vindication which I found in it. I well knew how watchfull the Faction would be to lie in wait & catch at every Straw, misrepresenting and abusing every measure which was intended to secure us from foreign influence. the President waited a reasonable time for the answer of the House to his Speech, before he made his nominations to the...
1255Abigail Adams to Oliver Wendell, 29 November 1779 (Adams Papers)
My dear Mr. Adams when he left me recommended Mr. Wendle to me as one of those Friends he had Requested to assist me in his absence. My present Application is to request that you would be so good as to inform me at what rate exchange is at present, and whether you would take the trouble of exchangeing 30 or 40 dollors for me within this fortnight or 3 weeks if I should send them to you. If...
1256Abigail Adams to Oliver Wendell, 27 December 1779 (Adams Papers)
Your obligeing reply to my request demands my Thanks. I have taken the Liberty of sending 5 Guinea’s to be exchanged—any time within these ten days will answer. I was told last week that exchange was at 35, but you Sir are in a better situation to be informd than I am, and I have full confidence in your kindness which forbids me to apoligize for the trouble given you, by your Humble Servant,...
1257Abigail Adams to Oliver Wendell, 20 January 1780 (Adams Papers)
I return you thanks Sir for the trouble you took in exchangeing my Money, our currency is some thing like the Stocks abroad, rises and falls with the News of the Day. MS (not found). Printed from a facsimile in Letters of Mrs. Adams, the Wife of John Adams , ed. CFA , 2d edn., Boston, 1840, vol. 2, frontispiece. At foot of text: “Honble. Oliver Wendell.”
1258Abigail Adams to Charles Williamos, 1 July 1785 (Adams Papers)
I received your favour last evening which is the first line we have had from you; I shall send to this Mr. Clark and see if the other Letter is to be found. We are at present in much confusion our furniture having just arrived at our house which we are aranging as fast as possible, so that I am between the Bath hotel and Grovesnor Square much occupied. I assure you it would be a great addition...
1259Abigail Adams to Nathaniel Willis?, 4 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of december 21 was deliverd me enclosing the extract relative to Mr. Hutchinson. As you were pleased to express an approbation of it, and to suggest a publication of it, I have returnd it, that you may make that use of it if you think proper. In a Letter from Mr. Adams dated the 25 of Sepbr. he writes me that the late orders he had received from Congress would oblige him to a...
1260Sunday June 20 1784. (Adams Papers)
Embarked on Board the ship Active Capt. Lyde commander, with my daughter and 2 servants for London. To go back to the painfull Scenes I endured in taking leave of my Friends and Neighbours will but excite them over again. Suffice it to say that I left my own House the 18 of June. Truly a house of mourning; full of my Neighbours. Not of unmeaning complimenters, but the Honest yeomanary, their...