Your Letter, my dear Caroline, gave me pleasure. As all your’s are calculated to enliven the spirits, I take them as a cordial, which during the residence of the baldpated winter and a close confinement to my chamber for several weeks, I have been much in want of. And now what return can I make you—What can you expect from age, debility and weakness? Why, you shall have the return of a...
This morning’s post brought me your letter of the 20th. We were all delighted; grandfather’s tears watered his cheek when he read the letter; Susan skipped with all her warmth and ardour, into every part of the scene. “In joyous youth, what soul hath never known, Thoughts, feelings, taste, harmonious to its own.” S. walked her mile and a half to communicate the grateful tidings; every heart...
303From Abigail Smith Adams to Caroline Amelia Smith De Windt, 28 May 1808 (Adams Papers)
Your letter of May the 8th, your grandpapa brought home with him from church, on Sunday the 20th; owing to sickness I was not able to go, and am yet confined to my chamber. My fever and cough are both leaving me, and I hope a few days more will give me health sufficient to enjoy the fine season. I have been reading a novel called the Wild Irish Girl. Why the term wild is given, I know not,...
my dear Caroline must be informd that her Grand mothers Eyes are so much afflicted as to oblige her to put on the Green Shade which her dear Mother made for her Grandfather, and this prevents her reading or writing for the present, Yet she cannot refrain from addressing a few lines to her to acknowledge her welcome Letter of and to congratulate her upon the Restoration of peace to their...
I can scarcly belive that I have not written to my dear Girl for so long a time as two months, yet upon opening her Letter in replie to mine, I find it bears Date 28 Sep’br This Letter I hope will receive a double welcome for it incloses one from your Friend which of them I know not, but it came under cover to your Grandpappa this week. Your Aunt E. Adams has been sick almost ever since she...
If you find as many joyful faces to receive you, as you have left sorrowful hearts behind you, you will have no reason to complain. When upon former occasions you have been separated from me, it was always with the expectation of having you again with me; since I have considered you as mine, you have been to me one of the chief props and supports of my declining years. By your watchful...
307From Abigail Smith Adams to Caroline Amelia Smith De Windt, 21 June 1816 (Adams Papers)
It was with a heavy heart and trembling hand, that I yesterday broke the seal of your letter to your uncle. I knew that he was gone to Boston, and as I had not any letter myself, I could not wait in such suspense; the contents of the letter has left me little expectation of hearing that the lamp of life is not nearly extinguished. I had written thus far, when Louisa brought me the paper, with...
delightfull praise! like summer Rose that brighter in the dew drop glows— they were Sweet Drops from the heart to the Eyes both of your grandfather & grandmother when I read to him the two Letters to your Father and uncle this day in praise of your Mother. you could not have offerd a Sweeter incence to your Grandfather— to know that flowing from the hand of Friendship in a Strain of Sincerity...
I write you a few lines just to say that I send your mother a century Sermon, preached in this town when your Grandfather was about four years old. He says he recollects the day—as his mother carried him to meeting and pointed out to him the old lady Penniman mentioned in the Sermon said to be near an hundred years old—The Sermon had got out of print—A number of persons who wished to preserve...
310From Abigail Smith Adams to Caroline Amelia Smith De Windt, 3 May 1813 (Adams Papers)
I inclose you a volm from Harriot, and I have written to your Mother so late, that I have not a brain prolific enough to entertain you. I could inform you that our old gardner went to France this winter and did not expect to return soon enough to garden, and we have got another in his stead, who like most successors, finds fault with his predecessor, that this should have been so, and that...
Thursday, 30th November, was our Thanksgiving Day; I was not able to attend church, owing to my eye, which I regretted: our good minister is always excellent upon particular occasions; I am told he was upon this. At dinner I looked round, I hope with a thankful heart, but alas! how many of my dear children were absent, not one of them to give pleasure to the festive table; the young shoots and...
To-morrow will be a fortnight since you left me; I have watched the weather with much solicitude, and when we had snow, as we had the Thursday after you set out, I hoped it might speed your journey, provided there should not be too great a quantity; although the storm was severe and cold on Saturday, it was pleasant sleighing. I flattered myself we should enjoy it for a week or ten days, but...
I have not written to you this year! and this is the second month of it, and let us ask the rising year, now open to our view yet wrapped in darkness, whither dost thou lead? Let cheerful hope receive the welcome guest, gratefully recollecting the many blessings of the past year, and committing ourselves to the wise and overruling providence, who suffers not a sparrow to fall to the ground...
I hope you received the letters safe which I inclosed to you from your brother. I wish I could gratify you with some more, but we must wait with patience, and put up with one less, for such we must have had by the capture of our vessels. The book you want I cannot get, without the whole set of 4 volumes, which come very high. I have sent you Walter Scotts, lady of the lake which I think will...
315From 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...
316From Abigail Smith Adams to William Eustis, 5 August 1812 (Adams Papers)
I address you upon a subject of much delicacy and which from circumstances which must be well known to you makes me diffident in presenting to your view the oldest Revolutiary Feild officer now Living. I presume I need not name to you his former Services, nor the loss of property which his Family sustaind by the Enemy, nor the wounds he received in the Service, or those qualification, which so...
317From Abigail Smith Adams to Abigal Adams Shaw Felt, 30 March 1816 (Adams Papers)
It is So long Since I heard from you that I am anxious to hear from your own pen, how you have got through the winter, and your good Father? For myself, I can Say that but little. I have had a very Sick time, ever since Jan’ry—I have not Sufferd much pain, but a great weakness and debility, like the breaking up of a constitution, never very robust, and very frequently assaild. With the...
318From Abigail Smith Adams to Abigal Adams Shaw Felt, 13 August 1815 (Adams Papers)
I have not written to you for a long time. I heard from you through your Brother, who kept Sabbeth with us this day week. Mr and mrs de Wint have past 5 weeks with us and I have had a large family, which you know brings much care. They left us last week—Caroline Spoke often of you, and desired me to give her Love to you. She was not well, and went out very little while She was here. the death...
319From Abigail Smith Adams to Abigal Adams Shaw Felt, 29 April 1815 (Adams Papers)
your Letter my dear Abbe is worthy the daughter of the Mother you mourn, whose disposition and virtues the mantle of Elijah has descended to cover you you will have engrafted into your own Life and conduct , and now exhibit with So much credit to the honour of the Religion of him who took upon him the infirmities of human Nature, & compassionated the Sorrows of a Martha & Mary— may the hand of...
320From Abigail Smith Adams to Abigal Adams Shaw Felt, 15 December 1816 (Adams Papers)
Married and cannot come, is an excuse of ancient date, but married, and cannot write, I do not find in any Chapter of the Bible Now my dear Neice what is the reason that I have not received a line from you, Since you exchanged the Name of Shaw, for that of Felt? It is true, I have heard of you, from your Brother, but Surely You Should recollect, that you have one only Aunt living at Quincy,...
321From Abigail Smith Adams to Abigal Adams Shaw Felt, 10 February 1818 (Adams Papers)
Why my dear Neice so loth to use your pen? But I do not hear from it twice in a year? Altho you possess many of the virtues of your Mother, and inherit many of her amiable qualities, you do not keep up that literary intercourse with your nearest Relatives, which was a distinguished trait in her Character. few persons held so eloquent a pen; or could find such ready access to the Heart: I...
322From Abigail Smith Adams to Abigal Adams Shaw Felt, 13 September 1816 (Adams Papers)
It is a long time Since I have received a Line from you, or written one to you. yet it does not follow that you have been less the subject of my Thoughts—I have often wished You were near to me, that I might assist at least by my advise in any thing where you might feel, as tho you wanted Age, and experience to aid you—But you have been so habituated to do right; and have indelibly fixed in...
323From Abigail Smith Adams to Abigal Adams Shaw Felt, 15 April 1815 (Adams Papers)
I scarcely know how to address you by way of consolation, who myself stand so much in need of the Same Support. under one of the most Solemn impressive and afflictive dispensations with which it has pleased our Mather Heaven to inflict upon us—the loss of Such a parent cannot be estimated by the powers of language, the Silent Anguish of the Heart can alone pour it forth, yet while we bend over...
324From Abigail Smith Adams to Hendrick W. Gordon, 15 July 1813 (Adams Papers)
your favour of July 12th is before me I forward to your kind care a few lines more to my Son merely to Say that we are all well. the aspect of our public affairs is so unpleasent, and the conduct of our own State So mortifying to every real uncontaminated American, that I turn with disgust from them when I take my pen to write to him, knowing how grievious to him they must appear. The Letter...
325From Abigail Smith Adams to Hannah Storer Green, 20 February 1810 (Adams Papers)
I know not the date of your last Letter to me but this I know, that it is not so ancient, as the date of our Friendship, that commenced with our first knowledge of each other, “grew with our growth and strengthend with our strength.” it has continued undiminished through all the various vissisitudes of Life, which have checkerd our progress—from the juvenile days of Caliope and Diana, to the...
326From Abigail Smith Adams to Hannah Storer Green, 1809 (Adams Papers)
I know not how to acknowledge the date of your last Letter to me. one thing I know, that it is not so ancient as the date of our Friendship, that commenced with our first knowledge of each other, and has Subsisted undiminished through all the various Scenes through which each of us have passed I may add in a long Life in a checkerd State from the juvenile days of Caliope & diana, to the...
327From 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.
328From Abigail Smith Adams to Lucy Cranch Greenleaf, 30 June 1811 (Adams Papers)
I promised to write you what I considerd the State of Your Dear Mother. She has appeard since you left her to be mending Slowly, has Slept considerable at night. her Sleep has not been altogether quiet, a Groaning which you no doubt observed attended it. She had taken the Bask Several times, but yesterday was obliged to quit it, her mouth and Stomach being very Soar, and her Breast tight. her...
329From Abigail Smith Adams to Lucy Cranch Greenleaf, September 1811 (Adams Papers)
in replie to your inquiries I answer mrs Adams had a very bad night. at 2 oclock Nancy came to my Room to request that I would send for the doctor. he got here before day light and bled her, since which she has had some rest, altho much opprest & at times almost exhausted. discharges continue black, but the Soarness abated, and the dr says the pulse better—Mrs Smith by the use of the Mayweed...
330From Abigail Smith Adams to Lucy Cranch Greenleaf, 1811 (Adams Papers)
I Send Some old Maderia & Sherry, the & the Curtains. I grieve that I cannot personally assist in nursing my dear Sister whom I pray God to comfort Sustain & Support under weakness her weakness, and trying afflictions. what I ever I have or can procure for her, I beg I may be calld upon for inclosed is a Small pecuniary aid. Sickness is chargeable in all families—I Send you a cheese and a...
331From Abigail Smith Adams to Lucy Cranch Greenleaf, 1811 (Adams Papers)
I Send you some oranges and Lemmons. the last night was a trying one to those who were not very Sick: I was myself so faint as Scarcly to feel able to draw my Breath—I think it equally relaxing to dog days—I hope it will clear up for the benifit of the Sick. does the Dr think your mothers fever came to the height Mrs Smith is very well unwell. I hope it is only a bad cold, but She has been...
332From Abigail Smith Adams to Lucy Cranch Greenleaf, October 1811 (Adams Papers)
I heard last Evening of the melancholy event, and sincerely sympathize with the afflicted family I send you some peices of crape they are rusty, but the best we have. if you attend the funeral, and want a Bonnet, if mine will answer and my crape cloak they are at your service—I intended to have asked You here to day to have past it, with mrs Cushing and Caroline, but a melancholy duty calls...
333From Abigail Smith Adams to Lucy Cranch Greenleaf, 1811 (Adams Papers)
How are your dear Parents your Father I learnt when I returnd from Boston was very Sick. I have feard it for more than a week. is he as he used to be, or more lost? this terrible hot weather I fear will be too much for my dear Sister, and your Fathers illness added. your call is great for firmness and fortitude, as your day is So may your Strength be, and God knows what is best for us. to him...
334From Abigail Smith Adams to Lucy Cranch Greenleaf, 1811 (Adams Papers)
I Send your Mother a Bottle of Hermitage wine which on Serching the cellar we found. I hope it will prove a cordial to her. it is more mild than port, and excellent for herI pray it may be blest to her restoration MWA : Adams Papers.
335From Abigail Smith Adams to Lucy Cranch Greenleaf, July 1813 (Adams Papers)
Mrs Smith reachd here yesterday at about ten oclock was like your dear Mother taken out of the carriage in a chair and carried to her chamber—She is indeed a very sick woman, spasms draw her up, cannot take food. every thing oppresses her—any Indian meal and water—her stomack seems to have lost its tone. how she got here is a marvel to me, a constant worry upon her nerves, so that at times she...
336From Abigail Smith Adams to Lucy Cranch Greenleaf, 17 August 1813 (Adams Papers)
My dear Daughter Survived but a few hours after you left us—She lay much in the Same State untill twelve oclock when after a few Struggles her Spirit was releasd to join those of your dear Parents and many others of the just made perfect—whilst I mourn for her I bless God, that her Sufferings were not greater, and pray for divine Support MWA .
337From Abigail Smith Adams to Lucy Cranch Greenleaf, April 1811 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your kind inquiries. I am better to day. I had the Rheumatism in my head, and was quite Sick yesterday. I took a little medicine last night and find it has releived me, tho I am not very smart to day. mrs Smith thanks You and will call and see you. She is engaged to her Brothers to day—She has walked out twice into the Neighbours—your Brother wrote me Sometime Since that altho...
338From Abigail Smith Adams to Lucy Cranch Greenleaf, 1811 (Adams Papers)
How is your Mother to day. what night had She & how is miss Katy & Ruthey? have you procured a Nurse for her yet? have you heard from Weymouth I hoped to have ventured out to day to have Seen my dear Sister, but the weather is such that I dare not. tomorrow is a fortnight Since I was out of doors—Jackson has the same fever, tho I hope he will not be worse. he has kept his Bed this week—have I...
339From Abigail Smith Adams to Lucy Cranch Greenleaf, 1811 (Adams Papers)
How are all your Sick to day. what night had your Mother and how is little Lucy? I presume you know the cause why you did not hear from me yesterday, or see any of our people—I was much Shocked the event was So Sudden one of the Shipleys is taken down. Mrs Smith took an Emetic last night but She could not puke. it however opperated otherways—I Send you a pr of fowls and a peice of ham, two...
340From Abigail Smith Adams to Lucy Cranch Greenleaf, October 1811 (Adams Papers)
will you get mr Norten to inform by Letters mr & mrs James Foster of the death of your dear Mother and our request to them to attend the funeral on Saturday—Louissa did write to them the morng that your Father died, but some exception was taken that they were not notified by the Family. mr George Palmer Should be written to, he had not heard of his uncle death till Louissa informd him. mr...
341From Abigail Smith Adams to Lucy Cranch Greenleaf, 1811 (Adams Papers)
If you will Send Lucy & Johny here to day we will take care of them. Betsy Says She knows her Mother will watch to night if you want her, and I will try to get an other for you. MWA : Adams Papers.
342From Abigail Smith Adams to Ann Frances Harrod, 24 March 1805 (Adams Papers)
I have had an inflamation for several days past in my Eyes, which has prevented either my reading or writing, and must plead my excuse with you, for not sooner thanking you for the pleasure afforded me by your excellent Letter, and of communicating to you mrs Smiths request in her last Letter, of being particularly remembered to you, and of saying to you that she hoped e’er long to become...
343From Abigail Smith Adams to Ann Frances Harrod, 19 February 1805 (Adams Papers)
I received last Evening your Letter by the hand of mr Adams, and the little matters accompanying it. you executed my commission quite to my satisfaction. accept my thanks in return. I have regreted that you have had such wet Streets in Town, after having experienced so much confinement at Quincy. To know that we can go, and come at our pleasure, is a privilege, even when we do not use it, and...
So long a period Should not have elapsed before I had congratulated you upon your new Character as wife and Mother if a very dangerous Sickness with wich I have been visited had not prevented. I have been chiefly confined to my bed for the last fortnight with a Lung fever which has reduced me very low. I am able now only to Sit up part of the day and have not been able to read or write untill...
345From Abigail Smith Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 29 April 1817 (Adams 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, & wealth, this...
346From Abigail Smith Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 15 December 1816 (Adams Papers)
My good Husband has call’d upon me for Some Letters, written to me by my Son, when he was last in Paris, in 1815 in which he gives me a particular account of the Family of Count de Tracy and of the circumstances which introduced him to their acquaintance. Beleiving that it will give you pleasure to become acquainted with this happy Domestic Circle, I readily embrace this opportunity of...
347Abigail Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 15 December 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
My good Husband has call’d upon me for Some Letters, written to me by my Son , when he was last in paris , in 1815 in which he gives me a particular account of the Family of Count de Tracy and of the circumstances which introduced him to their acquaintance. Beleiving that it will give you pleasure to become acquainted with this happy Domestic circle , I readily embrace this opportunity of...
348Abigail 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, &...
349John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, with postscript by Abigail Adams, 20 June 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
The fit of recollection came upon both of Us, So nearly at the same time that I may, Sometime or other, begin to think there is Some thing in Priestleys and Hartleys vibrations. The day before Yesterday I Sent to the Post office a letter to you and last night I received your kind favour of the 10 th . The question before the human race is, Whether the God of nature Shall govern the World by...
350From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 15 July 1813 (Adams Papers)
Never mind it, my dear Sir, if I write four Letters to your one: your one is worth more than my four. It is true that I can Say and have Said nothing new on the Subject of Government. Yet I did Say in my Defence and in my Discourses on Davila, though in an uncouth Style, what was new to Lock, to Harrington, to Milton, to Hume, to Montesquieu to Roauseau, to Turgot, Condorcet, to Rochefaucault,...