1To John Adams from William Stephens Smith, 23 February 1814 (Adams Papers)
More trouble hangs over the Camp The President last night, indulged The Secretary of War, by consenting to the arrest of Major General Wilkinson—The Court martial is detailed, and dispatches with an official arrest were this morning, sent off from the War office, to the Army of the North—somebody must be sacrificed to cover the blunders of the War— Yours respectfully, MHi : Adams Papers.
I have your letter of the 1st. inst. and yesterday visited Mr. Hellen & his family, they are all well and received no injury from the late invasion, they all however retired into the Country for a few day’s under great terror, the enemy however did not approach their house nearer than the Palace, distant about one mile—I enclose the report of the naval Committee expressive of the gallant...
3From William Stephens Smith to Abigail Smith Adams, 20 July 1813 (Adams Papers)
I have your letter of the 16th I hasten to ansr. it as I have by the same post receivd a Letter from our dear Caroline from Schnectady giving an account of the safe arrival of the Party there in improved health they go on to Ballstown to try the Springs & from thence proceed to Quincy; where I now have no doubt but they will arrive safe—I have addressd the paper of the day to Caroline by which...
4To John Adams from William Stephens Smith, 28 February 1814 (Adams Papers)
I received yesterday a Letter from my dear Caroline of the 20th. inst. informing me of the better health of yourself and M rs. Adams, of which, of course I was happy to be informed Heaven grant you both a perfect restoration, and that you may continue a blessing to society and a comfort to your family and friends—The removal of Mr. Granger produces a considerable sensation—and the proposed...
5To John Adams from William Stephens Smith, 28 December 1813 (Adams Papers)
I have your letter of the 15th. inst., the aspect of public affairs become every day more gloomy The slap which I predicted before I left you has been realized, I expected it from the dividing of our force, and knowing that Govr. Provost as an officer, would try a battle of manævre, previous to our troops taking too imposing a position, he tried it and it put a period to the Campaign—The enemy...
6To John Adams from William Stephens Smith, 31 December 1813 (Adams Papers)
It is here a profound secreet of the Cabinet, known only to seven— You may rely upon it a negotiation will be promptly entered into to restore peace between the united States and Great Britain The British Administration, decline the mediation of Russia, but will appoint ministers to negotiate with the American ministers, and express their confidence that all matters, between the two nations,...
I was made very happy by the receipt of your letter of the 7th. I have enclosed two papers to your uncle; they contain the proceedings of the last week. I am appointed a member of a committee to inquire whether any, and if any, what, provision ought to be made, for the more effectual protection of the northwestern frontier of the U.S. against the incursions of the savages and other enemies. I...
I have received your Letter of the 5th. inst. with its enclosures, to and from the Secretary. I thank you for the interest you have taken in in the promotion of my wishes, relative to military command, but I at present think it is almost too late—If my profered Services had been accepted, in the first instance, I am conscious I could have rendered material Service, but as affairs are now...
9To John Adams from William Stephens Smith, 18 March 1814 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of the 2d. instant contains so many weighty and important questions relative to the jaring points of negotiation in the interior of Europe, that I cannot see how they are to be adjusted and settled You take a wider range and a more expanded view of the immense questions, then I conjecture, has crossed the minds of our political seavans , for myself, from the pictures you hold up, I...
10To John Adams from William Stephens Smith, 24 October 1815 (Adams Papers)
In your last letter from Quincy of April 4th. you wished I would furnish you with a Copy of Hamiltons Letter to Miranda and asked in what Journal, Magazine, Review or Newspaper it s deposited—At the time, I could only furnish Mirandas Letter to Hamilton, since my return home I have found among my books a Vol entitled South American emancipation a London edition By J.M. Antipara, a Native of...
11From William Stephens Smith to Abigail Smith Adams, 29 June 1811 (Adams Papers)
I was much gratified by the receipt of a few lines from you under date of Feby. 11th. enclosing a Letter from my Son William whose improvement I notice with pleasure— my Son John attends his dear mother and Sister on a visit to you, I proposed to attend Mrs: S. the last fall, and again pressed her to visit you in the Winter being confident both you and herself would feel more at ease than...
12From William Stephens Smith to Abigail Smith Adams, 1 March 1815 (Adams Papers)
I received your kind letter of the 22d. of Feby. this morning—I have the pleasure to inform you of the restoration of my health—Congress will adjourn of course on Friday next—the roads are intollerably bad I have my horse and Sulkey with me, and after the roads get a little settled, I shall travel on gently to new york, and perhaps to the Valley—an extra meeting of Congress will take place,...
13To John Adams from William Stephens Smith, 22 March 1814 (Adams Papers)
I have forwarded to you The Report of the Department of war on the subject of our military force the past Campaign I now enclose you Documents from The Secretary of the navy, relating to the navy of the United States—both of which will put you in full possession of the present real state of these two important departments, of course will be thus far satisfactory to you—The House have been for...
14To John Adams from William Stephens Smith, 31 March 1814 (Adams Papers)
The restrictive System is raised and The President this day recommended to The two Houses of Congress to raise the Embargo—The communication was refered to The Committee of foreign relations, who will report to-morrow—The Papers of tomorrow will fully inform you, and I will forward them by the post of the 2d. of april— To make comments to you must be Superfluous, I mark the aspect of the...
15To John Adams from William Stephens Smith, 2 March 1815 (Adams Papers)
I receive with great satisfaction your congratulations on the peace, dated the 22d. ulto. the day of the great rejoicings in Boston, I have noticed the detail of the processions, and ceremonies, they must have been great indeed—The Bostonians have always been remarked, as doing things upon a great Scale. I suppose you did not see, the regular confusion, or hear the enthusiastic shouts of the...
16From William Stephens Smith to Abigail Smith Adams, 31 December 1814 (Adams Papers)
I received your letter enclosing one addressed to Mr. Adams, and presented it to the Secretary of State it will be forwarded with the public dispatches to Gent. I do not admire Williams return at this moment, having recieved his Commission as Secretary of the Legation, I think he had better hold it, and remain abroad for the present—least he should be on his Way I stated to Mr. Monroe, as he...
17From William Stephens Smith to Abigail Smith Adams, 7 July 1813 (Adams Papers)
I have the pleasure of acknowledging the receipt of your Letter of the 30th. of June, and enclose you a letter from Mrs Smith, which I received yesterday, two from Caroline and one from my Son John, whose affectionate attentions have no doubt contributed much to the restoration of their dear Mother’s health, who I am extreamly happy to find is able to travel and that she is now on her way to...
18From William Stephens Smith to Abigail Smith Adams, 2 April 1814 (Adams Papers)
I have your letter of the 22d. of march, and am much gratified that my enquiries and communications relative to Mr. De Wint meet wit your approbation—you will no doubt observe by my last letter to my dear Caroline, that ultimately my Ideas fully correspond with your own, and thinking that I was hard with the young man, I softened my letter, and withdrew from that stern position that I had...
19From William Stephens Smith to Abigail Smith Adams, 9 June 1813 (Adams Papers)
I have perused the Letters from Russia which you were so good as to forward to me, I submitted them as you requested to The perusal of the Vice President, who when he returned them, he expressed his thanks for the confidential communication & observed “they develope the Character of the british administration, as well as the opinions of our friend Mr. J. Q. A. on the subject” I have a Letter...
20To John Adams from William Stephens Smith, 15 July 1813 (Adams Papers)
An Express arrived last night at 12 oClock from Point look out , advising that the Enemy had entered the mouth of the Potomac with five Ships and one leading armed Brigg, Mr. Granger the Post master General who lives but a few yards from me gave me this information, immediately—an universal alarm in the district took place this morning, what few Troops are here have marched, down the River—a...
21From William Stephens Smith to Abigail Smith Adams, 7 November 1814 (Adams Papers)
On Saturday the 5th. I received your Letter of the 28th. ulto: the introduction you have given to the Revd. Edward Everet, when presented will be received to the full extent of his most sanguine expectations, I love the introduction of Worthy Characters from those I love and esteem— That the communications from our dear Caroline to you are satisfactory, is highly gratifying to me, and that we...
22To John Adams from William Stephens Smith, 24 February 1816 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of the 21st. of Novr. being forwarded under cover to William at New York, remained some time with him and was not addressed to me here, untill I informed him that I should not proceed to Washington, but pause the decission of the House, on the pretentions of Doctor Willoughby, Knowing the complection of the majority and their political biass, I concluded, I would save myself the...
23From William Stephens Smith to Abigail Smith Adams, 18 January 1813 (Adams Papers)
I have enclosed to the Pres. an Oxford paper printed 30 miles south of us, containing my answer to the people on the subject of an address they were about to dispatch to General German the Senator of the western district of this State in Congress,—I flatter myself that both The President and yourself will think I have done right in preventing the address being forwarded—It seems that it can’t...
24From William Stephens Smith to Abigail Smith Adams, 25 January 1813 (Adams Papers)
Mrs Smith has been several days much incommoded by the Rheumatism and has deputed me to answer your letter of the 3d. inst. we think the congratulations on the issue of the election not amiss, if it is only upon this score, that, the Votes of the people in the Counties of Madison and Herkimer, for member of Congress and the wishes of the people in the southern and western Counties at the same...
I received your letter of the 6th instant, and mourn most sincerely with you for the loss your brother and sister have met with in the death of their amiable child. You wonder why it was sent to entwine itself around your hearts, and then to be thus snatched away, is amongst the mysterious ways of Providence. Read Parnell’s Hermit: “Be taught by these, confess the Almighty just, And where you...
26To John Adams from William Stephens Smith, 4 March 1814 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday at 1/2 past 5. P.M. The Bill authorising a loan of twenty five Millions of Dollars, passed the House of Representatives by a Majority of forty two—It has been a Subject of animated debate for twenty day’s—it now of course, passed to the Senate, It is not expected that it will long rest there— The Papers which I forward and those you receive thro’ other channels, put you regularly in...
27From William Stephens Smith to Abigail Smith Adams, 19 June 1813 (Adams Papers)
Enclosed I send you a letter from my dear Caroline mentioning that my dear Mrs: Smith is getting better—It will give her great pleasure to have our Son John with her for a time— On Thurday last I dined at the Presidents and was honoured with the seat next to Mrs: Madison, who is a polite amiable elegant Lady, She entered on the Subject of Williams marriage and expressed herself very much in...
28From William Stephens Smith to Abigail Smith Adams, 13 March 1814 (Adams Papers)
I have your Letter of the 2d. inst. one from My dear Caroline of the 28th. of Febry. and one from my son John of the first and one from Mr. DeWint of the 2d. inst. all of which I have answered, the majority however goes by this post— The subject is highly interesting I have promptly answered Caroline, my Son and Mr. De Wint— I wrote a note to The Hon ble : Mr. Oakley a member in Congress from...
I received your very affectionate Letter (dated the 20th. of August, post mark 2d inst.) on Wednesday; in my Letter of August 12th. I may have expressed myself with too much Solicitude and given my opinion too decidedly in Opposition to that of professional men—they will have liberallity , enough, to excuse me—I fully agree with you that it would be best, having advised with Surgeon’s and...
30From William Stephens Smith to Abigail Smith Adams, 1 January 1816 (Adams Papers)
Being thus particular, in designating my position I think my friends at Quincy will not hereafter be at a loss where to address their pleasant letters to me, I am induced to be thus minute, by a remark in your letter of the 18th. of november, which I was delighted to receive,—wherein you say, you had contemplated writing to me for some time previous to the receipt of my Letters to The...