1To John Adams from John Thaxter, 28 June 1785 (Adams Papers)
At the last Term of the Supreme Judicial Court held at Ipswich came upon Trial the Celebrated Cause of John Murray vs the Inhabitants of Gloucester— (This Murray is known by the Name of Salvation Murray, to contradistinguish him from another of the same Name, who preaches a very opposite Doctrine, and is known by the Name of Damnation Murray.) M r. Murray about a twelvemonth agone brought an...
2John Thaxter to Abigail Adams, 4 June 1785 (Adams Papers)
I had a few days since the pleasure of your favor of the 20th. of March last. Your reproofs are always accompanied with so much delicacy, that the reproved forget the Censor in the Friend. I confess I have been strangely inattentive to my friends on your Side of the Atlantic, and that I am entitled to a large Share of their Remembrance. ’Tis but an indifferent Apology to say, that I seldom...
3John Thaxter to John Adams, 1 June 1784 (Adams Papers)
The time of M rs— A s. departure draws so near, & the Conveyance is so unexceptionable, that I can hardly be excused from forwarding a few Lines.— I wish it was in my power to write you a particular state of our public Affairs; but my life for six months past has been so recluse, and I have seen so few Persons from whom certain Information could be obtained, that you must not expect any very...
4To John Adams from John Thaxter, 19 January 1784 (Adams Papers)
’Tis two Months this day since I arrived at New York— I delivered the Treaty & Dispatches on the 22 d. Nov r. to General Mifflin, the President of Congress, then at Philadelphia— One delay & another prevented my reaching home ’till the middle of December— I am ashamed that I have omitted writing so long—but Visits & Sickness have prevented.— M r. Gerry wrote you so largely upon the general...
5John Thaxter to Abigail Adams, 16 December 1783 (Adams Papers)
I have this moment received your polite Invitation to dinner tomorrow, and am extremely sorry, that a severe Cold, which has confined me a day or two to the House, prevents my accepting it. I had engaged to dine in Company tomorrow if well enough, but could easily set aside the Engagement, if nothing else but that prevented. I should be very happy to see Mr. Shaw, and if I have not that...
6To John Adams from John Thaxter, 22 September 1783 (Adams Papers)
I expected at this date to have been at Sea; but the violent Winds from the West & N. West render it absolutely impossible to leave the Port. The Vessel that is to carry me is completely fitted & ready, & has been so ever since the 19 th. instant, she having been prepared in thirty six hours after my Arrival— I am infinitely indebted to the Zeal & Activity of Mons r. Thevenard, who has done...
7To John Adams from John Thaxter, 18 September 1783 (Adams Papers)
I arrived here this Morning at about eleven o. Clock, and to my great disappointment found the Packet Boat had sailed four hours before my Arrival— She had been detained two days for me, altho’ the Wind was very favorable. I am exceedingly chagrined & mortified, tho’ I have nothing to reproach myself with; & I flatter myself the Ministers for Peace will acquit me of having made any unnecessary...
8To John Adams from John Thaxter, 12 August 1783 (Adams Papers)
On Saturday last M r. W m. Smith (Son of I. Smith Esq r of Boston) arrived in Town— He left Boston 7 th. July, & all friends were then well— He has brought several Letters for you, which I think prudent to keep, ’till a private hand offers— The Letters from M rs. A. M r. Cranch & D r. T. of Weymouth, I have not opened, as I knew the hand writing— In opening a large packet, for you I found four...
9To John Adams from John Thaxter, 7 August 1783 (Adams Papers)
The affair of surrounding the State House at Philadelphia terminated very differently from the expectations of our Enemies of all denominations— The Troops employed in this contemptuous daring Attack on the Civil Power have humbly solicited the forgiveness of Congress, while two of their Officers, the Ringleaders, have fled for safety to the Asylum of two of our choice Friends , D. & A.— They...
10To John Adams from John Thaxter, 4 August 1783 (Adams Papers)
I arrived here last Evening with M r. Laurens & Son, M r. Barclay, Storer & Champion— We came off Pool in Capt Barney, who left Havre de Grace on Friday last— Having luckily fell in with a Pilot Boat, & the Wind being good for Barney, we went on board the Pilot Boat & landed at Pool, M r. Laurens thinking it most adviseable that Capt. Barney should improve the good Wind—so that he may be said...
11To John Adams from John Thaxter, 31 July 1783 (Adams Papers)
M r. Laurens & Son arrived here last Evening from Paris— I waited upon them immediately, and learnt that they were going over to England as soon as M r. Barclay should arrive, which will be to day, in all probability, as he left Paris the 29 th. instant. Capt Barney, it seems, is directed to give M r. Laurens a Passage to Portsmouth, which is but a short run from hence— M r. Laurens will, upon...
12John Thaxter to Abigail Adams, 29 July 1783 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Adams having taken a Journey to Holland for three or four Weeks, and there being nothing of consequence to do in his Absence, Mr. Storer and myself thought it an exceeding good opportunity of executing our Project of a Voyage to this place, for the sake of the Sea Bath. We arrived here on the 27th. instant, after a delightfully fatiguing Journey. We passed thro’ the Province of Normandy,...
13To John Adams from John Thaxter, 27 July 1783 (Adams Papers)
M r. Storer and myself arrived here this morning, after a very fatiguing Journey; tho’ I am apprehensive much less so than your’s, considering the extreme heats— Normandy is, I believe unequalled in the Riches of its Soil— Grains of all kinds in vast abundance cover an extensive Country— We saw also charming fields of Clover and Honey Suckle, such as would have delighted your Eyes— But...
14John Thaxter to Abigail Adams, 10 June 1783 (Adams Papers)
It would give me great Satisfaction to have it in my power to reply to any Letter from you since October last. But that pleasure is denied me. I feel that I am deprived of one Source of Instruction and Entertainment, in being deprived of your excellent Letters. And I support the Privation with little Philosophy. I am thoroughly tired of this cold Consolation, “wait with Patience.” Tis...
15John Thaxter to John Quincy Adams, 28 May 1783 (Adams Papers)
I have had the pleasure of recieving your favor of the 20th. instant. With regard to the Miniature of Genl. Washington, which Mr. D ana requested You to enquire about, I have only to say, that Mr. D. has been fully informed of the Reasons of the Delay in not sending it. Mr. Dumas can give You the whole History of the Affair, as he was so kind as to undertake the Expedition of it to...
16John Thaxter to Abigail Adams, 18 April 1783 (Adams Papers)
For about three Weeks in the Time of Lent, the Play Houses are shut up, on account of its being a Season for the Care (not Cure ) of Souls. To a City so much accustomed to Amusements as Paris, this is a Time of Mourning and Sadness. Horse racing and Bull baiting have been invented to fill up a part of this Interval of Sorrow. But what is called the Fête des longs Champs, or long Fields, is the...
17John Thaxter to Abigail Adams, 28 March 1783 (Adams Papers)
Peace seems to have closed all Communication with America. ’Tis a very long time since any Vessels or Letters have arrived either in France or Holland. We cannot account for this Circumstance, but upon the Supposition, that News had reached America of Negociations for Peace being opened, and that while this Business was pending the Merchant prefered a State of Inactivity to putting any thing...
18John Thaxter to Abigail Adams, 30 January 1783 (Adams Papers)
In acknowledging the receipt of your kind favor of 26th. October and in confessing it was accompanied with five or six other Letters, which arrived yesterday, You will naturally conclude, that a rash Declaration made in my Letter of 22d. instant, of not writing again to my Friends, ought to be recanted. I do not hesitate a moment to make a formal Recantation, and would repeat it twenty times...
19John Thaxter to Abigail Adams, 22 January 1783 (Adams Papers)
I little expected, when writing to You on the 16th. instant, to have so soon congratulated You upon the Signature of the Preliminaries of Peace between France, Spain and England, and upon a Signature of an Armistice by the Ministers of those three Powers together with those of America . This Business was accomplished on the 20th. instant at Versailles, and is the Occasion of my addressing...
20John Thaxter to Abigail Adams, 16 January 1783 (Adams Papers)
About three weeks agone, I forwarded a packet of Letters to Mr. Cranch, inclosing one to him—the first since I have been in Europe, that I ever transmitted to America without a line to your Ladyship. I must confess the packet seemed incomplete—a want of time rendered it so. I am persuaded that my Punishment will far surpass your disappointment. However to avoid a similar Misfortune again, I...
21John Thaxter to Abigail Adams, 15 December 1782 (Adams Papers)
I intended to have wrote largely by this Opportunity, but have been confined ever since last Sunday night to my Bed and Chamber, with a most violent Cold, a kind of Punishment for Pride and Curiosity. I was last Sunday at Versailles, the day was extremely cold and foggy, much was to be seen, and but little time for the purpose. I drove about without Hat and with thin Shoes all day long, gave...
22John Thaxter to Abigail Adams, 27 November 1782 (Adams Papers)
You will believe me, when I inform You, that I am grievously disappointed in only having to acknowledge the reciept of just two Lines and an half from You by Capt. Grinnell. I am sorry that the Shortness of your Notice has deprived me of so much Happiness. The Card however will keep alive my Expectations ’till the promised Letters arrive. But lest Miss Nabby should think I set no Value upon...
23John Thaxter to Abigail Adams, 19 November 1782 (Adams Papers)
In my melancholy, unhappy Moments, (for such I sometimes have), I recur to my old Letters for Consolation, and to none with more pleasure than the sentimental ones of Portia. Letters give Wings to the Imagination; and by their Aid I can transport myself in an instant to H ingha m, or B rai n tr ee and there enjoy the Company of my Friends. In reading over again your’s of the 18th. July last, I...
24John Thaxter to Abigail Adams, 14 November 1782 (Adams Papers)
I forwarded a Letter to You, Madam, yesterday by Capt. Barney, Commander of the Packet Washington, and this I expect will go by the Cicero, Capt. Hill. Have the Vessels done passing between Boston and Europe? I have received no Letters a long time from home, and I begin to grow a little impatient, especially since I have heard of my Father’s Misfortune. I have a half Story about the Matter,...
25John Thaxter to Abigail Adams, 10 November 1782 (Adams Papers)
We arrived here the 26th. last Month after a tedious Journey in a crazy Carriage, with the additional Circumstances and Douceurs of constant Rains and bad Roads. Nothing however compared to Spain. At Valenciennes, the first City of France in coming from Holland, we stopped half a day. The greatest Curiosity we saw there was in a Church, where we found the Virgin Mary encirling the City with a...
26John Thaxter to Abigail Adams, 17 October 1782 (Adams Papers)
I am thus far advanced on my Journey, and shall continue it from hence tomorrow. I found Mr. Storer writing to You as I came in, and he has consented to inclosing a few lines in his. Your letter of 5th. Septr. to Mr. A. has duly come to hand. You express a strong desire to make a Voyage to your dearest Friend. I am not surprized at that, and think your Patience and Sacrifices are perfect...
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28John Thaxter to Abigail Adams, 9 October 1782 (Adams Papers)
In receiving the Communication, that the T reaty of Amity and Commerce between the United States of America, and the seven United Provinces, was yesterday signed , You will at the same Time accept my sincere Congratulations upon this Event. It has been a long, tedious and troublesome Negotiation, and fortunately for our Country in very good Hands. Every Negotiation here takes up so much Time,...
29John Thaxter to Abigail Adams, 3 September 1782 (Adams Papers)
What pleasing Sensations does a Packet from the other side of the Atlantic produce? Every part of the human frame sympathizes and is in Unison. This Truth I have most sensibly felt this day, in recieving three Letters from America. I was at Peace with myself before I opened them. The Superscriptions, in informing me from whence they came, saved me a Turn of the Fever, which threatened before....
30John Thaxter to Abigail Adams, 16 August 1782 (Adams Papers)
I am to express my Acknowledgments to You for your kind favor of the 17th. June last, with which I was honoured this day. I expressed my Chagrin in not recieving a Letter by the Firebrand in mine of the 27th. July, which accompanies this. Little did I think that in that moment the tender sympathetic Heart of Portia was sharing, and participating in the Cares and Agonies of her dear Sister, who...