121From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 16 March 1814 (Adams Papers)
I See by the paper that a cartel is to sail from Newyork for Gottenburgh. altho I have written to you frequently of late, by our ministers, mr Clay and Russel, and again by mr Tuckerman, who sails from Norfolk, yet I know it will give you pleasure to hear every day, that your parents, and your children are well. George and John, who are both attentive to their Studies, have lately past a few...
Yesterday was our Thanksgiving day. In our own way, and with tempers suited to the occasion, we gave thanks for those blessings which we felt had been granted to us in the year past, for the restoration and recovery from dangerous sickness of members of our own family; and, although in one instance we had been called to weep, in many others we had cause of rejoicing. We were in health; we had...
123From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 10 June 1816 (Adams Papers)
As I consider you as a part of my own Family, I Send you the inclosed, which you will return with care tomorrow morning tuesday I mean—we have Letters from Mrs A. from Utica and Susan one from Abbe of 2 June, in neither of which is any mention made of the Cols Sickness, or Caroline could not have reachd there, I think at that time yet I wonder as the distance was not further, that mrs Adams...
124From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 24 September 1811 (Adams Papers)
your Brother returnd this Evening from Boston and gave me notice that a vessel would Sail for Sweeden tomorrow the notice is So Short, that I can only write you a Short Letter. I Shall in future follow your advice, have a Letter ready for the occasion and not wait for the opportunity. it was not however, untill last Saturday that I received a Letter from William Smith, that I was informed of...
125From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 5 May 1817 (Adams Papers)
I inclose to you a paper with the distrest State of an old Batchelor, not Supposing that you will answer the advertizement, but because amongst my acquaintance I know no one who So nearly answers his description—He has left his own qualifications out of the question—a dolt does he think to get Such a wife without Sterling worth on his own part? dr Franklin says “ a Batchelor is not a compleat...
126Abigail Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 29 April 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
what right have I to be one of your tormentors? and amongst the numerous applicants for introductory Letters? why I will plead, old acquaintance, old Friendship and your well known Benevolence— but to the Subject of my present address. Mr Theodore Lyman , who possesses an ardent thirst for Literature, and whose Father , is one of our most respectable Characters for probity, honour, &...
your Letter of Feb’ry 15th, lies yet unacknowledged My Spirits have been in a whirl, the intelligence from new orleans, of the total defeat of the British forces, with the circumstance of Such Slaughter amongst the assailants, and Such unheard of protection of our Troops, ought Surely, by every Moral and Religious people, to be asscribed unto that Being, unto whom we pray, to “teach our hands...
128From Abigail Smith Adams to Sarah Smith Adams, 20 December 1814 (Adams Papers)
I was glad to learn through mr Johnson that you had an agreable journey home Your visit here seems more like a vision, than a reality,—and you hurried away so soon, that I had not half time enough to become acquainted with mr Johnson, to whom it was really doing an injury, for the more he was known, the more estimable he appeard I had not one half hours conversation with my Dear Abbe, by...
129From Abigail Smith Adams to John Adams, 15 March 1817 (Adams Papers)
So, so master John, your Back is up, because you have not been written to, as often as you thought your dignity required—why I really think there is Some reason for you to complain of your Hingham School Mates—but I beleive they are Scatterd now, not one of them remaining with mr Thimbull who were your companions—new ones Succeed Politeness requires that notice Should be taken of letters of...
130From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 23 December 1814 (Adams Papers)
The black hair Ribbon is just what was wanted, I thank you for thinking of it. I Should like 8 yds I believe of the Banbest like the pattern inclosed; I like the colour better; tho the Cloth is not quite so fine—they are not any so good, as I had last winter in Black. amongst the , is there not any Colevain Cotton Shirting like what I bought there winters ago, it was yd Wide at 8/9. I do not...
131From Abigail Smith Adams to Mary Smith Gray Otis, 13 May 1814 (Adams Papers)
Next to the Supports of religion; is the sympathy of Friends in affliction, of the first you have abandent sources in the Belief of an all wise goveneur and disposer of events, in whose goodness you can confide, and upon whose word you can repose—as the Husband of the Widow and the Father of the Fatherless, unto that being I commend you, and your dear Children, most sincerely sympathizing with...
132From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 6 May 1815 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday, was one, of the most joyful days of my life Harriet Welsh, like a winged mercury, came flying with your Letters received by Mail in the morning, from N york. under cover from Napolean Caroline de Wint, who knowing my anxiety, respecting you, and Mrs Adams. she seizd them in the moment they were deliverd, and forwarded them by Mail, with the pleasing intelligence that her mother, and...
133From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 8 December 1811 (Adams Papers)
I have the pleasure to acknowledg Your Letter of the 30th of June, brought by the Pilifix , Captain Welsh, after a passage of 95 days—being No 21—this compleats my list of Regular numbers, and yesterday I received your Letter of the 10 Sep’br by Captain Barker of the Leopard. No 24 there are two Missing originals, a press coppy of 23 came inclosed in No 24, but the Characters of the first page...
134From Abigail Smith Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 9 May 1815 (Adams Papers)
It was with great pleasure, that I received your Letter from St. Petersburgh, bearing date july the 10th 1814 forwarded by mr Smith and your Sister, who from a combination of circumstances were detaind abroad: untill the 2d of May 1815 when they happily arrived in N york—bringing with them the pleasing, intelligence that you had reach’d Paris—the day after they left it— I cannot describe to...
135From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 7 August 1816 (Adams Papers)
I make it a rule to begin my Letters by an acknowledgment of those which I have received from you, when any such there are. I have now the pleasure to notice yours of june the 6th No 89—I do this for two reasons—1st because every correspondent likes to know, that their Letters, are received, and 2ly that they are worthy notice, and there is not any Subject, apparently trivial in itself, but...
136From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 8 December 1815 (Adams Papers)
I have lost my dear venerable second Father and ancient Friend, the upright Christian, the noblest work of God, an honest Man—I heard he was unwell on wednesday the P and I went to visit him. he was in his parlour appeard to have a voilent cold, raised freely, but I observed spoke very faintly; and appeard to me at the time, like a Lamp just expiring. I left him, dubious whether I should ever...
137From Abigail Smith Adams to William Stephens Smith, 23 July 1811 (Adams Papers)
I hope you will not impute my not writing to you by your son to want of attention to you, or a proper Sensibility to your request containd in your Letter to me. The extreem Heat of the weather, and my joy at the arrival of a dear and only Daughter after an absence of three years and a half, realley disqualified me for my pen, and Johns Stay was so limited that I could not Say by him What I...
138From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, March 1818 (Adams Papers)
I beleive you thought me very imprudent to consent to the Presidents going to Town So cold a day as yesterday—but the cold increased much after the morning and I was quite anxious untill he returnd—much pleased and gratified with his days excursion there is Such a thing as Staying at Home untill it becomes wearisome to us change of place, or dear variety compose part of our happiness I enclose...
139From Abigail Smith Adams to Lucy Cranch Greenleaf, 26 December 1816 (Adams Papers)
your uncle and I ask the pleasure of mr Greenleafs and your Company to dinner tomorrow. Your Aunt MWA : Adams Papers.
140From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 1 January 1817 (Adams Papers)
Many happy returns of the Season dear Harriet is wished you by your Friend, who you know would rejoice to see you at Quincy, but the Gay parties in Boston, must have more charms for the young and Beautifull, than the Sombre & dreary view of a dead & brown carpet which covers the Earth at present, & the leafless Trees, so naked and bare. I want to see it put on the white mantle, so emblamatical...
141From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 30 June 1815 (Adams Papers)
This Letter my dear son, is to introduce to you, and mrs Adams, the Lady of Major Manners, whose mother has written to me to request it. as the daughter of our much Loved, and highly respected Friend, the late Dr Rush, You will receive her with kindness. Ever since the death, of that friend of your Fathers, and of the family, I have had an occasional correspondence with mrs Rush—and your...
142From Abigail Smith Adams to Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody, 24 April 1813 (Adams Papers)
Yesterdays post brought us heavey tydings tidings from Philadelphia. our Friend, our Physician, the constant and weekly correspondent of my Husband is no more; the Learned the accomplished, the Benevolent Rush is gone; I cannot describe how heavily this loss falls upon us in our old Age. it is like severing a Limb from the Body. upon the 10th of this Month the president received a Letter full...
143From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, 24 October 1816 (Adams Papers)
I have not had any opportunity of returning the Letter and paper you Sent me on Saturday. mr C. did not call here on Sunday, but went on to Hingham. he did not return on Sunday Evening with Susan as I expected, nor Stop here on Monday, all of which I dissaprove—the poor Mans mind is much perplexd. we had a conversation, which gave rise to a Letter of a Friendly Nature, and a most tender and...
Altho a reluctance to Letter writing grows daily more, and more upon me, your Mothers Letter to your Grandfather, and the communication she made, has aroused me from my S t upor, and calld forth all my sensibility your Youth alone allarms me. I know you to be a prudent discreet and virtuous Child, from principles well founded: which will be a Seenrity to any Gentleman, whom you may favour with...
A long period has elapsed since I addrest a line to you—I have not taken my pen for three weeks—I have been so constantly occupied with my visitors, and a sick domestic, who has been near dieing with a Billious fever the whole time my Friends were with me, that I could not find a leisure moment. mr & mrs DeWint his Mother their children and servants left us last week, about the time when...
146From Abigail Smith Adams to William Stephens Smith, 27 September 1811 (Adams Papers)
I yesterday received your Letter, and at the Same time, the President received the one inclosed from dr Rush which I think it my duty, altho a distressing and painfull one, to me, to communicate the contents to you by the earliest opportnty you will See by the Letter, that Mrs Smith wrote her case to dr Rush, which her Father inclosed with a request that he would give his candid opinion. Mrs...
147From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 28 February 1815 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of Nov’br 23d No 66. came by way of England and reachd me on the 12th of this Month. at the Same time we received the News that a Treaty of peace between America and Great Britain was signed upon the 24th of December. A Blessing I hope. altho ardently desired, was not so soon expected, from the Hostile attitude which Britain had taken, and the nature of her demands, as exhibited in...
148From Abigail Smith Adams to Harriet Welsh, February 1815 (Adams Papers)
I inclose to you mr Adams’s Letter of Novbr 23. the peace was it seems as unexpected to him a month previous to its taking place, as it has been to us— The passage markd begining “it is mortifying to” &c to the close which is also marked, you may give to the public, as an extract of a Letter from an American gentleman abroad to his Friend in America, and that respecting washington.— you will...
149From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 9 February 1806 (Adams Papers)
I begin my Letter by announcing the Health of your Children, that your mind and that of their Mothers may be at ease & “they cannot speak for themselves it is true,” but there are Mothers who are not less anxious for those who can speak for themselves; and it is with much pain that I learn from your Friends that your Health does not appear to have been mended by your journey, or change of...
150From Abigail Smith Adams to Katherine Dexter, 12 May 1816 (Adams Papers)
How can I address you, or offer human consolation for a wound which must bleed afresh at every attempt to assuage it? Yet if the tears of friendship, and a nation’s tears can afford any relief, be assured, dear Madam, they flow from all honest hearts, for you, for your children and for a country which mourns one of its brightest luminaries extinguished. A great man, fallen in the zenith of his...