1From William Smith Shaw to Joseph Barlow Felt, 28 October 1818 (Adams Papers)
I had proposed to come & see you on Saturday last but hearing of the dangerous sickness of my Aunt Adams I was induced to visit Quincy. She has been afflicted with a violent bilious fever, which has left her almost prostrate. I came to town last evening. This morning Dr Welsh who stayed there yesterday came to town & informed me that the symptoms were little more favorable but I fear the...
You will see by the papers the death of my Aunt Adams—The funeral to be on Saturday two Oclock—I wish by all means that both of you will be present—If you come to Boston, you can in company with Mr. & Mrs. Foster, come out to Quincy in one of the carriages which I have already engaged at the request of the P——t. & which would otherwise come out & return empty. In great haste your brother DLC :...
3From William Smith Shaw to John Quincy Adams, October 1816 (Adams Papers)
Your letter of the 7 April last, I never had the pleasure to receive untill the 30 June. At that time, I was most severely afflicted by a violent attack of the rheumatism which confined me for nearly three months afterwards and of which I have not even now perfectly recovered. Since my convalescence from the last attack of the session of the District Court for Sept term & that of the Circuit...
I have received your letter of the 3 Jan and should have written you an answer before but thinking that it would be more satisfactory to both of us to converse together respecting the important subject of the letter I have delayed writing, constantly flattering myself that it would be in my power to visit Atkinson but this has not been in my power. Indeed I had prepared myself to have gone on...
5From William Smith Shaw to John Quincy Adams, 28 October 1815 (Adams Papers)
In consequence of a Letter from my Agent at L”pool I declined going to that place for a passage to South Carolina—I will Sail from the port of London, in the course of a few days, but will wait upon your Excellency personally to take leave, & to be the Carrier of any Dispatches your Excellency may confide to my care prior to my Sailing—Lord Viscount Lowther Arrived at his House 25 Pall Mall...
6From William Smith Shaw to John Quincy Adams, 19 October 1815 (Adams Papers)
Actions of little import, can demonstrate the Man of Magnanimity. I exult Sir, as an American Citizen, and it is with Pride, pleasure, & honorable Ambition, that I announce, the fact to have been demonstrated, in your Excellencys deportment in a late Transaction. Permit me Sir to make my acknowledgments with Sentiments, and in a manner, far above ordinary respect, and to assure Your Excellency...
7From William Smith Shaw to Abigail Smith Adams, 24 June 1815 (Adams Papers)
Received of Abigail Adams in trust for my sister Abbe A Shaw thirty four dollars, which with three dollars 50 cents, paid by mrs Adams to mrs Foster, is in full for a quarters Rent of the Medford Farm, due in April MHi : Adams Papers.
8To John Adams from William Smith Shaw, 19 December 1814 (Adams Papers)
I had promised my friend George Ticknor Esqr who will hand this letter to you, that I would accompany him to Quincy and have the pleasure to introduce him to you but unhappily I am prevented in consequence of my official duties. He is the son of Deacon Ticknor of this town, whom you may probably know. He has been regularly educated and admitted at the bar. He is an uncommonly industrious and...
9From William Smith Shaw to John Quincy Adams, 15 April 1808 (Adams Papers)
I do myself the honour to send you with this Parson Gardners sermon—also a few more copies of your letter—There have been five thousand of them published here for circulation and five thousand more ordered from Salem— Mr. Atherton formerly of the house Cram Poor Atherton has requested me to mention his name to you for a n commission in the army if the selection should be left to the Senate as...
10From William Smith Shaw to John Quincy Adams, 9 April 1808 (Adams Papers)
I had the honour to receive your letter to Mr Otis on Thursday evening last, and have attended to its publication, with as much expedition as possible—The printers have published an edition of a thousand copies and the sale of them commenced this morning and the whole are now disposed of. Oliver & Munroe are now printing a second edition of a thousand more on their own account and have...
11From William Smith Shaw to John Quincy Adams, 14 December 1805 (Adams Papers)
I hope before this reaches Washington you will have arrived there and found your friends well and happy. I have received of Delisle & Dexter the rents which were due amounting to three hundred and seventy dollars and have paid Mr. Thayer as you will see by the inclosed receipt three hundred & fifty adding to which twenty dollars received as the dividend leave in my possession forty dollars for...
12From William Smith Shaw to John Quincy Adams, 5 November 1804 (Adams Papers)
I hope by this time, you have safely arrived at Washington and found Mrs. Adams family and friends in good health—I send by the same mail with this three of Parks of papers containing four numbers with the signature of Publius Valerius and will send the others as they appear. You will see in these papers that Dr Eustace’s brother has made an assault on Park for in consequence of a publication...
13William Smith Shaw to John Quincy Adams, 7 January 1804 (Adams Papers)
On my return last evening from Atkinson where I have passed the last eight days in company with your brother Thomas I had the pleasure to receive your letters of the 23 & 24 ul t: with Mr. Tracy’s speech for which I am much obliged to you At present I have only time to say that Mr Stedman was the writer of the letter alluded to in mine of the 13 th — Russel when he shew me the letter did not...
14William Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams, October 1801 (Adams Papers)
Some time since Andrew Foster, a relation of Mrs. Otis, applied to Mr. Otis for admission as student of law in his office— Mr. O. told him, that he then had his full number, the bar having limited themselves to three students at one time—that he could not then admit him, but that probably on Mr Adams return, I should prefer studying in his office, and if so, Foster then might fill my vacancy....
15William Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams, 16 April 1801 (Adams Papers)
I have received the things you sent me by Townsend and my Aunt Cranch with your letter of this morning and the shirts, for which please to receive my thanks. I find this town so very noisy and the present situation in which I am so very different, on many accounts from any in which I have ever before been, that it will take some time before I shall become naturalized. This circumstance and not...
16William Smith Shaw to John Adams, 6 April 1801 (Adams Papers)
After living uninteruptedly in your family, for almost three years, and uniformly receiving, both from you and my Aunt, all the affection and tenderness of the most indulgent parents, I should do injustice to all the honorable feelings [of a gr]ateful heart, were I to omit this opportunity and leave you, Sir, without [ex]pressing to you my warmest acknowledgments, for the innumerable favors I...
17William Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams, 2 March 1801 (Adams Papers)
For a few days past, every moment of my time has been so compleatly occupied in official duties, that I have had hardly a moments time to write or even to think for myself— We have not heard from or […], since your last letter to the President from Philadelphia The President has nominated all the officers for this district Mr T. Johnson of Frederick—Mr Marshall of Alexandria, brother to ex Sec...
18William Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams, 25 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
I have had the pleasure to receive your very kind letter of the 14 th of Feb. at Baltimore, for which I pray you to receive the grateful offerings of an honest heart. I should not have neglected answering it, till this late date, had I not been uncommonly occupied in business, and had nothing to tell you, but what I wrote to Mr. Adams, whose letters I presume you have seen Soon after you left...
19William Smith Shaw to Thomas Boylston Adams, 19 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
I gave you the earliest information of Mr. Jeffersons election. Last night a mob of about fifty collected about the houses near to the capitol and compelled the inhabitants to illuminate them in honor to Mr. J. This passive submission of the federalists to the will of a rascally mob is in my opinion degrading in the lowest degree. I never would have submitted I would have died first. No...
20William Smith Shaw to Thomas Boylston Adams, 3 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
Agreeable to my promise in my last, I now inclose to you Mr Jeffersons letter, which I consider to be the counterpart of the letter to Mazzei and which, you must have more philosophy, than I think you possess, to read without bitter indignation—without execrating the author, in the most unqualified terms. The whole letter is in the canting style of the vilest demagogue of our Country.—...
21William Smith Shaw to Thomas Boylston Adams, 25 January 1801 (Adams Papers)
Yourss of the 20 th & 21 st are received. I also received this morning a compleat sett of the Port folio without any letter or direction respecting them. Presuming they were sent to be at my disposal, I shall send them by tomorrow’s mail, to Anapolis where I expect to get many subscribers. I some time since sent a sett to Boston and another to young Chace at Baltimore, and if I had a number...
22William Smith Shaw to Thomas Boylston Adams, 8 January 1801 (Adams Papers)
Your several favors are before me. The letter for ——— I sent by the first mail, after receiving it. I delayed sending your brothers letter, expecting that you would comply with your promise, and send me the whole series—then I should have returned them altogether. For the pamphlet of Gentz, please to receive my best thanks. I have been highly delighted and instructed by the perusal, and doubt...
23William Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams, 8 June 1800 (Adams Papers)
The last letter I wrote you was from Frederick Town. I should have written to you more frequently, while on the road and sooner after our arrival in this city, had it not been for the concourse of people, from the time of his reaching entering, till he left a house, which continnually surrounded the P——t, and which, in this warm weather, was infinitely more fatigueing than his journey. We...
24William Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams, 1 June 1800 (Adams Papers)
Before I left Philadelphia, I wrote you, expecting the letter would overtake you at Brookfield. The rain on monday prevented our leaving the city till Tuesday, as we had previously intended. The great rains, which they have had this way, have made the roads very bad— they are ploughed up, by the heavy loaded German waggons, exactly like the corn fields in New-England, and you might with equal...
25William Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams, 25 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
By Major Toussard, we had the pleasure to hear of your being at Scotch plains in health, and of your being escorted a few miles from thence by some of the officers. By a letter from Malcom, […] heard of your arrival at N York, & of your intention to leave that city on Saturday Morn. I presume by the time, this can reach Brookfield, you will be there— I shall direct it, under cover to Mr....
26William Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams, 10 April 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have the Honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Letter of the 30 th. I am much gratified that the proceedings of this Brigade meets with your approbation, I hope it will be entitled to your good opinion & wishes to the end of—its military Career— my assiduities and pointed attention shall not be wanting— I have daily causes of exultation, and am very frequently complimented, By The...
27William Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams, 26 February 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have been honoured by your Letter of the 18 th — I have noticed its Contents, I consent to your wishes, and I will smother my own, if my heart cracks— my Idea of happiness, rests on the ability properly exercised—to promote the happiness of others, whenever I am furnished with this ability I exercise it, and consider myself obliged by the oportunity, I have written to M rs: Smith, & you will...
28William Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams Smith, 26 February 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have received your letter, by the Paymaster, of the 12th. I see your embarrassments, and if I were not prominent to relieve you from them, I should forfeit my charter— the roads are bad, the season is inclement, the Delaware is almost impassable — your mamma cannot bear to part with you, and the President does not know how to let C—— go. These are truths which nobody can deny. I will...
29William Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams Smith, 14 January 1800 (Adams Papers)
I am, my dear, here at General White’s in company with Mrs. and Judge Cushing, Mrs., Miss, and Judge Paterson, &c. I thank you for your letter, and am of course pleased with the dignified majority in the House of Representatives. Be it known, we are not building a dancing room; be it known I have not built an elegant hut. I should not have gratified my feelings relative to you had I not made...
30William Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams Smith, 23 December 1799 (Adams Papers)
I received yours of the 19th this afternoon, and yesterday received orders from General Hamilton to prepare for the funeral rites of our departed General, on Thursday next. I have put every thing in the necessary train of execution, preparative to the reception of his final orders, which I expect to receive in the course of the night; and last night I determined to erect a monument to his...
31William Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams Smith, 22 December 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have the pleasure to inform you that I struck my marquée on the 19th, and took shelter in my hut, which is yet without doors to it, but much more comfortable than the tent. The last night I slept in the tent, a bottle of wine, standing on the table, froze through, but still I was not uncomfortable. It will be some time before I can have the pleasure to announce to you, that the hut is...
32William Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams Smith, 24 November 1799 (Adams Papers)
I had the pleasure, my dear, of receiving your favour of the 20th yesterday. * * * * * * * * You say you often think of me, enduring, as I must, many hardships and inconveniences; they are, however, hardships and inconveniences which scarce deserve regard, relating only to the person; the pains which really incommode, are in the mind, occasioned by delays in the supply of the necessary...
33William Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams, 31 October 1799 (Adams Papers)
Your favor of the 28 th inst I this morning had the pleasure to receive and for which my best thanks are due you. With this you will receive a letter from Mr T. Adams received last evening— I think the probability is that he will be with us this Afternoon. The Chief Justice and Govenor Davie have both left this place for New port where Captain Barrey is waiting to receive them and to carry...
34William Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams Smith, 28 October 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received your letter of the 24th, this day, the after part of which has been taken up in the reception of the 13th regiment into our camp. The scene was brilliant, and attended by the whole of the inhabitants of the adjacent country. It is now over; and after giving a welcome in my tent to the officers and respectable inhabitants, and it being 10 o’clock at night, I compose myself to...
35William Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams, 12 October 1799 (Adams Papers)
After quite an agreeable journey we arrived at this place on the 10 th inst. where we have found much better accommodations than we had any reason to expect. We are at present with two old maids Miss Barnes’s, who appear to be civil and obligeing— they have furnished The President with two rooms, a parlour handsomely furnished and a convenient bed chamber. The City is very much crouded at...
36William Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams, 6 October 1799 (Adams Papers)
We arrived at this place last evening about seven Oclock, where we have found most excellent accommodations. We have been highly favored with charming weather—excellent roads and good entertainment ever since we left you.— find the chariot a much easier carriage than the coachee. The President thinks he never made so great a progress in his journey with so much ease to himself as the present....
37From William Smith Shaw to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 5 June 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to enclose to you, by the direction of the President, a letter from General Lincoln with a certificate signed by a number of the most respectable merchants of Boston, recommending Captain Silas Dagget of Martha’s Vineyard, to be keeper of the light house, to be erected on that Island. The president desires me to add that he has seen the man—was pleased with his civility and...
38William Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams, 26 February 1799 (Adams Papers)
I received your letter of the 14 th of Feb. yesterday— I enclosed to you this morning Browns paper containing the report of the committee, to whom was referred the petitions &c requesting the repeal of the Alien & Sedition bills &c. It was drawn up by Mr. Goodrich of Con t. and is a most masterly production. I think you must be pleased with it. The report was made the order of the day for...
39William Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams, 16 February 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have just received your letter of the 8 th of Feb. and feel grieved to find you in so low spirits and so unwell, but flatter myself that the sight of your son (whom I hope has long before this happily arrived,) & his excellent company will revive your spirits and restore your health. The snow has almost entirely left us and we have had some days of the past week as pleasant and warm as we...
40William Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams, 11 February 1799 (Adams Papers)
With this I send you two more copies of the dispatches— A defence of the Alien & sedition bills Divernois letter, Giffords address to the Loyal association &c the pamphlet setting forth the pernicious effects of stage plays. The last mentioned pamphlet was sent to the president the night after he went to the theatre and another quaker sent two more the Evening after.— they are grieved to the...
41William Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams, 9 February 1799 (Adams Papers)
Yours of the 2 d of Feb. I received this morning— The president says he cannot blame you for not writing oftner because you write two to him to his one—but could he write as freely as you can and had he as much leisure he should write you every day. Last Evening we went to the play. Secrets worth knowing & the children in the woods constituted the entertainment. The plays were good but the...
42William Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams, 5 February 1799 (Adams Papers)
There is a class of men in this country, possessing some public confidence, but entirely destitute of any moral principle, whose whole lives are spent in the prostitution of their talents to the perversion of reason—whose unceasing endeavors are to mislead the public mind— to obstruct public business and by the aid of cavil, misrepresentation and artificial odium, to deprive the government of...
43William Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams, 21 January 1799 (Adams Papers)
I am almost dead with a horrid cold and fear that before I shall half finish this letter I shall drown it with water, from my eyes. I wish I felt well and in good spirits enough to give you an account of the presidents ball— it was brilliant indeed, and the ladies were drest and looked almost too beautiful. The president enjoyed himself much better, than he would have done, had not Cousen...
44William Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams, 15 January 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received your letters of Jan. 3 d & 6 th with all that pleasure & gratitude which so much good counsel deserved. I do love to read your letters. Before this reaches you, you must have heard of Cousen Thomas’s arrival at N York, from whence he wrote to you. He arrived in this city this afternoon, & is very well. It would do you good to see how happy it has made Uncle. I wish Aunt was...
45William Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams, 6 January 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have seldom known it to be colder at the Eastward than it is here at present. Although I have a very large fire & my desk almost into it, still my fingers ache & the ink scarcely runs from the pen. I sent you a few days since Logans address, attempting, like his brother traitors, to vindicate his conduct. Thus did Arnold, Munroe & Randolph and thus do all traitors, Logans says in his address...
46William Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams, 30 December 1798 (Adams Papers)
’Though I have been writing a very long letter, to my wild, random, laughter loving Walter and have made it very late, still I want to thank my aunt for her letter of Dec 20 th received yesterday morning, before I sleep. Logan is chosen Representative for this State by a very large majority. It so happened that the day, L took his seat, a new carpet was placed on the floor of the house. The...
47William Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams, 28 December 1798 (Adams Papers)
Not a single letter have we received from you since Monday. Uncle sighs and says, I wish Aunt would write oftener and I sigh and say, Ah! if she knew half the happiness her letters gave to you us, I am sure she would write every day in the week. Congress debates have been warm and interesting for two days past on Mr. Griswolds motion respecting punishing interferences in the government &c. but...
48William Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams, 20 December 1798 (Adams Papers)
Notwithstanding my arms are so stiff, that I can scarcely move them, occasioned by cutting venson for twenty eight very hungry men, yet I must write a few lines to my aunt, before I sleep. We were made very happy this morning by the receipt of your letter of the tenth of Dec to the president. You do not say a single word, whether you have receiveed the newspapers, which I have sent you...
49William Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams, 18 December 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have long been wishing to find time to give my aunt a history of the visit of Dr. Logan to the president, the monday after we arrived in the city. He began by saying that he was extremely sorry that we are not to have the pleasure of Mrs Adams company this winter in this city. The president thanked him. He then said, that he had just come from France and that he had the pleasure to inform...
50William Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams, 16 December 1798 (Adams Papers)
I received your letter of Dec 9 th , with all that pleasure and satisfaction, which, the news of your better health, could not but excite— I declare I wish you would have, Aunt, a wedding every night in the week, for I plainly see that it gives you better spirits and consequently better health, than all the medicine in the world. I have not seen the president so happy this some time, as he was...