1William 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....
2William 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...
3William 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...
4William 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...
5William 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...
6William 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...
7William 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...
8William Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams, 20 July 1798 (Adams Papers)
O how happy should I be, were I to sit down to write you of my dear sisters better health, but alas I cannot. She fails every day & has now grown so weak that she is not able to wride out or even to come below stairs. She still keeps her usual flow of spirits, & sits “like patience on a monument, smiling” even tho in the arms of death. How miserable should I be, my aunt, in seeing my dear...
9William 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...
10William 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...
11William Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams, 2 April 1798 (Adams Papers)
Some lover of your nephews happiness, last thursday added something to the fragment of life, by placing in my hands your agreeable favor of March 20 th. The pamphlet sent me, I give you my sincere thanks. Is not Mr. Pickering the author. As soon as I read it, I thought I could see in it his simple style and forcible reasoning. I had read both Scipio and Munroes view, before I received your...
12From 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...
13From 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...
14From William Smith Shaw to Abigal Adams Shaw Felt, 28 October 1818 (Adams Papers)
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 :...
15William 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...
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, 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...
18William Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams, 20 May 1798 (Adams Papers)
Saturday April 21 st , I received yours of the 9 th . I wrote to you the 1 st of April in answer to yours of March 20 th , which before this you must have received, and shall always esteem my letters of inestimable value, so long as they purchase yours. The excellent pamphlet you sent me I thank you. The sentiment it contains—the spirit with which it is written prove to me, that the author...
19From 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...
20William 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....
21From 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...
22William 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...
23William 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...
24William 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...
25William 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...
26William 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...
27William 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...
28William Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams, 12 December 1798 (Adams Papers)
The president received two letters the latest dated 3 d of Dec from you last Evening with a letter inclosed for your son at Berlin which, I shall superscribe and deliver to Mr Pickering with your respects with a great deal of pleasure. I am very sorry to see that you were not so well as you were when you wrote the 25 th of Nov. You do not write in half so good spirits. I find Mr. Otiss family...
29From William Smith Shaw to Abigal Adams Shaw Felt, 27 January 1816 (Adams Papers)
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...
30William 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...