11Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 2 May 1801 (Adams Papers)
Your favor of the 22 d: ult o: has been a few days in hand. I thank you kindly for “the word intended for my private ear,” and shall avail myself freely of the offer, when occasion may require. Since, I wrote you last, I concluded that it was hardly worth while to Insure the Carriage, and therefore if fortune has proved adverse, your loss will be total as to the body of the Coach only, unless...
12Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 26 April 1801 (Adams Papers)
Ten days ago, I shipped your Carriage on board a Schooner called the Hannah of Nantucket bound for Boston, and as there was no room below, I had to consent to its being secured upon Deck. Since the vessel sailed, we have had, until this day, a constant Succession of North Easterly storms, which has given me uneasiness on account of your property on board, and in order to cover the loss, in...
13Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 30 March 1801 (Adams Papers)
Your kind letter dated this day week, has just come to hand. I rejoice to hear of your arrival once more at the farm house & that you have so far recovered from the unlucky accident, which befel you, as to be able to walk about. The return of my father was announced in the newspapers & with the addition of a line, signifying that “his worth would make him welcome there.” It is a source of...
14Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 9 January 1801 (Adams Papers)
I have received your letters of the 2 d: & 3 d: inst ts: and thank you for them— I shall agree with Fielding for the Coachee and attend to the conveniences you mention. I can suggest no method for your coming to this place, unless by taking a carriage from Washington, which might be sent back by Stage-horses. Barney, of Georgetown, would most probably contract with you for one— I am so...
15Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 30 December 1800 (Adams Papers)
Your kind letter of the 25 th: inst t: came by this day’s Mail. I have found a Coachee ready made, at Fielding’s for sale, which, with the alterations that can with ease & despatch be made, will, I think, answer your purpose exactly. The body of the Coachee is somewhat shorter & more in the form of a Coach, than that you have, but it is well put together & the wheels & carriage appear to be...
16Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 20 December 1800 (Adams Papers)
Our Supreme Court being in session, has occupied my time so much as to prevent answering your favors of the 10 th: & 13 th: inst ts: I have seen M rs: Kirkham since I got your letter, and given her the fresh order; she will prepare the articles & I shall send them as soon as I can. I have applied to two Coachmakers to ascertain what you desired; neither of them have any ready made coachees on...
17Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 19 October 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favors of the 10 th: & 12 th: inst ts: and am highly gratified by their contents; excepting the bill of health, which is less cheering than I could wish it might have been. I have been so occupied with attendance upon Courts and writing to my correspondents in Europe, during the last ten days, that I have not found time to write you; & the expectation of William’s...
18Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 5 October 1800 (Adams Papers)
I now enclose you my Brother’s letter of July the 10 th: which I promised to transmit by this day’s Mail; but being anxious to see a considerable portion of it in print, & solicited by M r: Dennie to furnish him a copy for the Gazette of the U.S. of Monday next, I could not complete the copy in time for sending, so that I am apprehensive you will not receive it until after the President’s...
19Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 3 October 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have your favor of the 26 th: ult o: with an enclosure; with what I paid for the servant’s trunk & the cask of wine, the account is just balanced. I have not been called on for any more charges & imagine none are due— The wine I suppose to be a present from Our Consul M r: Willis. I am extremely grieved at the disaster, which has befallen my Cousin Boylston, & which, according to your...
20Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 19 July 1800 (Adams Papers)
I had the pleasure to receive your favor of the 12 th: , this morning, enclosing a letter from my brother, for the perusal of which I thank you. It is a very long time, since I had any intelligence concerning him, and I feel anxious lest some of his letters or mine should have miscarried on the route. W. Shaw informs me, in his letter of the 11 th: that the State Department has letters dated...
21Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 18 June 1800 (Adams Papers)
This morning I had the pleasure to receive your favor of the 12 th: inst t: and am happy to learn your safe arrival at the hospitable mansion, where I fervently hope, you and my Father, may enjoy days & years of tranquil life. For my own sake & for the sake of all my family, it would, I believe, be a happy circumstance, if there should be no further occasion for either of my parents leaving...
22Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 1 June 1800 (Adams Papers)
I returned to the City the night before last on the 18 th: day after my departure. My Father sat off on Tuesday and I found the house turned inside out. My own things were carefully packed up by M r: Briesler and yesterday I had them removed to my lodgings in the same family that I was with last year. M r: Briesler & family will be ready to sett out on Tuesday and will leave the house in good...
23Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 15 October 1799 (Adams Papers)
Your favors of the 5 th: & 7 th: curr t came in course, and I am much indebted to you for the disposition you made of the letters, which arrived, after my father’s departure. I have lately rec d: several European letters & pamphlets & ought to have received another with the letter you enclosed me from M r: Pitcairn, in which he desires particular respects to you. He acknowledges the receipt of...
24Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 16 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
On the 11 th: inst t: I received your favor of the 4 th: and last evening, on my return from Mr: Breck’s Country seat, where I passed Friday & Saturday night’s, your’s of the 8 th: had come to hand. Same time, rec d: from William the poem you sent me for Miss Wister & his letter of the 6 th: I am obliged by all these things & newspapers to boot. Coopers address, valedictory, I now remember to...
25Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 26 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have no letter from you later than the 4 th: which I mention only because the interval is a little longer than usual between your communications and lest any you might have written may have miscarried. From William I got a packet on Saturday, after my letter of that day was sent to town, otherwise, I should have acknowledged its receipt. In J Russells paper of the 15 th: which he enclosed...
26Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 12 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your kind letter of the 4 th: inst t: which came to hand last evening, accompanied by one from D r: Tufts, enclosed by William. My letters are left usually at M r: Wistar’s and Sarah when she gave me those of last evening—say’s “Thomas, I expect I have got a rich treat for thee; from the number of packets addressed to thee, I should judge thee a favorite among thy friends”— I...
27Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 8 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
As I am in the City for a few days, you may wish me to write rather oftener than usual, to convince you that I am not ill. The weather since the month of June has been generally more than commonly favorable for this climate— it still continues so, and we begin to flatter ourselves that the City may escape the afflicting scourge it has heretofore experienced. The mortality which lately...
28Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 29 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I am in possession of your favor of the 21 st: inst t: with the letter of my brother enclosed; they were both very acceptable and I return the enclosure with thanks for the perusal— I hope shortly to receive the letter, which he mentions having written me on the subject of his affairs; though I think they are in as good & safe a train as any disposition I could make of them— I have written an...
29Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 21 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your favor of the 15 th: inst t: which reached me yesterday at this place, where I have been since the 15 th: and where notwithstanding your kind invitation & advice, I expect to continue until it shall be clearly ascertained whether the pestilential fever is to prevail or not in the City this season. I am out of the way of danger, if any should exist; and before the expiration...
30Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 6 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have your favor of the 30 th: ult o before me, and thank you for your tender solicitude on account of my health, for which however I think you need not be particularly solicitous, since I am, excepting a few sensations peculiar to the climate of this City at this season, as well as usual; in addition to which I am on the point of leaving town for some weeks to reside at Germantown in the...
31Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 21 June 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have your favor of the 15 th: inst t: and thank you for your kind solicitude respecting my health, which is just passable and no more— The extremes of heat & cold have a sensible effect upon my Constitution, and though I am tolerably free from rheumatics and faintness, yet I have the old complexion, with a tinge of yellow less perhaps than when I left you. My feverish habit still hangs about...
32Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 9 June 1799 (Adams Papers)
Your kind favor of the 2 d: inst t: found me as you conjectured at Philadelphia, fixed in my lodgings & in possession of my Office, which however is too far removed from the Court house & the seat of business. I was unwilling to give up the advantage of living in the family where I am, because in case of the fever appearing in the City, the same lady has a place of her own at Germantown to...
33Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 17 May 1799 (Adams Papers)
I left Philadelphia the 9 th: inst t: and after passing a few days very pleasantly at Baltimore in the society of M r: Johnsons family & that of Mrs: John Smith, came to this place where I had the satisfaction to meet M r: Cranch in tolerable health & spirits. I have been received & treated with uncommon hospitality and politeness in both these places, from the first characters, and as no...
34Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 22 January 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have had the pleasure of seeing and perusing two or three letters from you to my Father and M r Shaw since my arrival here, and have learnt with joy that your health is better than it has been for some time past. Do not be impatient for my coming on, for I shall certainly make no unnecessary delay, and unless I should take a run to George town for a moment, I shall set off for Boston on...
35Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 14 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
Your kind favor of July 19 th. was transmitted from Hamburg by our cousin Welsh & came to hand last evening. He had a pleasant passage of 38 days and will come on here as soon as he is a little recruited. We had already received your letter of the 14 th: informing of his intended embarkment in a short time, and I have made my arrangements in consequence to be off as soon as the Elizabeth...
36Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 26 July 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have already acknowledged your favors of March 18. April 4. since when, at different intervals I have received your kind letters of May 1. & 7.— My brother has one from you of June 12. in which the receipt of my letter of March 4 th: to my father is mentioned, and in a manner calculated to call forth all my gratitude, if not to excite some little emotion of self-applause. I have given way to...
37Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 12 February 1798 (Adams Papers)
Your kind favor of November 7 th: written at East Chester came to hand on the 24 th: ult o: and I have now to acknowledge the receipt, on this day, of your more recent communication, dated the 3 d: ult o: at Philadelphia. I have written to you but once since our arrival here, but my brother has been so frequent & copious in his letters both to you and my father, that I derive a sort of excuse...
38Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 10 September 1797 (Adams Papers)
M r: Fitch Hall being about to embark for New York I have entrusted to his care a trifling present, which I beg you to accept from me. I intended to have sent you a profile of myself by M rs: Johnson, but was prevented by the suddenness of her departure, which took place a week sooner than it had been previously fixed. The whole family left this place yesterday morning with the intention of...
39Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 17 August 1797 (Adams Papers)
I have at length made up my mind to accompany my brother and his lady to Berlin. In justification of this resolution I shall only observe, that it was formed after full and mature consideration, in which both sides of the question, to go or not to go, were deliberately examined, but I may also add, that compliance with the earnest desires of my brother, had a greater share in producing this...
40Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 24 July 1797 (Adams Papers)
The journey which I made to Paris, towards the last of April was performed so hastily, that it was out of my power to give you any satisfactory account of it from thence, and since my return, preparation for departure from Holland has engrossed most of my leisure hours, so that I have only found time to give an imperfect sketch to my Father of the most material occurrences of that tour. The...
41Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 7 April 1797 (Adams Papers)
I have already acknowledged the receipt of your kind favors of Sept r: 25 th: & Nov r: 8 th: which were the last I have from you, and that notorious thief of time, procrastination, has devoured a long interval since I made the promise to write you in a few days. I delight in receiving letters from you, but I have an almost inconquerable aversion to writing in my turn, nor can I account for a...
42Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 21 December 1796 (Adams Papers)
Towards the close of last month I had the pleasure to receive your kind letter of August 16 th: . I have been so much occupied since then, that it has been impossible for me to thank you sooner for the agreeable domestic intelligence it contains. I am led to suppose however that at the time it was written, your own health was considerably impaired, especially when you tell me, that at “this...
43Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 5 October 1796 (Adams Papers)
My last letter to you was dated the 27 th: of August, and went by “the Gen l Green” for Rhode Island. I hope ere this it has made more than half the passage. A direct opportunity offers for Boston from Rotterdam and another from the Capital, by the latter of which, I am informed, in a letter from Mess rs: Willink just received, will be sent the table linnen & ca: which was ordered by you last...
44Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 27 August 1796 (Adams Papers)
In discharge of my promise to write you a letter , which has been given you in two covers enclosing letters from my brother, I commence before the expiration of a second month since the date of my last, by an acknowledgment of your favor of June 10 th: which came to hand on the 6 th: curr t: together with several other’s for JQA. If to the countless instances of your affection and tenderness,...
45Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 29 June 1796 (Adams Papers)
Four precious letters from you have come to the hand of your apostate Son Thomas, without any other acknowledgment on his part, than silent gratitude. Such a return neither merits, nor I fear will it receive a repetition of your favors. The dates of those received are the 17. & 18. September 30 November and 12 March. I shall reply to them in their order so far as respects the several...
46Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 1 December 1795 (Adams Papers)
I had the pleasure to write you a few lines by the Betsey Capt n: Clarke, which sailed from Rotterdam last week; another occasion now offers by the Ann. Captain Lord, the same which brought your favor of the 8 th: October to my Brother, in little more than a month. I have forwarded your letter to him. He arrived in England on the 10 th: ult o: and I hear by a letter from London of the 13 th:...
47Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 5 August 1795 (Adams Papers)
Though it is but a few days since I had the pleasure of writing you, I cannot omit a direct occasion, especially as they occur so seldom, were it merely to repeat the information that no material alteration has taken place in my health or spirits since my last. Indeed I usually find little else to remark, which can be called original after copying three or four sheets of politic’s, the...
48Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 12 July 1795 (Adams Papers)
The four Letters which your last favor of April 23. mentions to have been written to me, have been received in their regular order, though some of them were nearly five months old when they came to hand. Accept my best acknowledgements for your kindness in writing so often; to solicit a continuance of it from you, is useless, because I know you will omit no occasion of affording to your sons,...
49Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 12 December 1794 (Adams Papers)
The Commission with which you charged me for the Mess rs Willink has been executed so far as depends upon me. The Gentlemen have promised to embrace the first opportunity that offers for Boston, to forward the things to you. I thought that they were too large to be sent with convenience form New York, for which port only, were there any vessels to sail immediately from Amsterdam. The...
50Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 20 October 1794 (Adams Papers)
A Passage of 28 days, landed me & my fellow Passengers safe on the shore of England— Our desire was to be put on shore at Dover, but the tide being against us from the place where the Vessel came to, we were obliged to put in to Deal; a little swindling village a few miles above Dover; here we landed, & asif we had been made of Gold or something more precious, the people were crouding round us...
51Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 14 June 1794 (Adams Papers)
It is a fortnight to day since my return to the City, & I have been waiting the arrival of every Post in hopes of hearing from my friends— I missed seeing my Father by one day only, & I have not yet heared of his safe arrival at home. It is probable you are busy in preparing my Brother for his departure— I hope however he will be called to Philadelphia before that takes place— I know not...
52Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 23 March 1794 (Adams Papers)
I have neglected writing to you longer than usual, that I might have it in my power to give you some more favorable prospect of publick affairs, than for some time past has presented itself to my mind; I have had some serious thoughts of the alteration of my pospects, in the event of a war. Instead of peaceably pursuing the path of my profession; the law of Arms would probably excite my...
53Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 22 January 1794 (Adams Papers)
your favor of the 6 th: Inst t: has been received— The expressions of tendeness & Maternal affection which it contains on my behalf, deserve a grateful return. It is true I commenced my career at the Bar, as the Prosecutor of a Female— The cause was of such a nature, that there was no necessity for personal or general remarks in the manner you allude to; I took occasion to remark to the Jury...
54Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 9 December 1793 (Adams Papers)
I believe you are indebted to me for a letter or two, but as your late loss has been my gain, it is more incumbent on me to attempt to compensate in some measure by my communications the absence of my Father. You have doubtless provided yourself with a comfortable supply of Winters Stores for a severe campaign, as there is reason to anticipate a long one— The Winter has but just commenced with...
55Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 24 November 1793 (Adams Papers)
I have now been in the City since the 19 th: and am happily able to give you the fullest assurance of our freedom from danger, on account of the malignant Fever. The Citizens have most of them returned, & universally in good health, business has revived, & is fast returning into its former train; from all present appearances, nobody would think that any Calamity had befallen us. It is...
56Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 17 November 1793 (Adams Papers)
Your favor of the 28 th: Oct r: has been received, & as I omited writing by the last Post, I will defer it no longer, lest, your fears should again be excited on my account. If I felt the same degree of alarm that appears to have taken hold of the People at a distance from Philadelphia, the proposal you were kind enough to make me of passing the Winter with you would probably be accepted, but...
57Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 3 November 1793 (Adams Papers)
Since my Brother informed me of the miscarriage of some of my letters, I am determined to suffer no Post to pass without writing to some of the Family. The Fever in Philadelphia is a never failing source of subject-matter, when every other is exhausted, but it gives me real joy that I have it in my power to assure you from the best Authority, that no danger is to be apprehended from returning...
58Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 20 October 1793 (Adams Papers)
I am happy in having it in my power to give you more favorable accounts respecting the Fever in Philad a: than I have yet been able— Not more than three or four persons have died p r: Day for 4 or 5 days past, at the Hospital and there is a prospect of safety in returning to the City in the course of a Fortnight. Indeed many Families have allready returned, but those who could stay away with...
59Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 10 August 1793 (Adams Papers)
I ought to have written you from New-York, of my safe arrival there in little more than three days, after a pleasant Journey, with only one constant companion from Boston, who was a French Gentleman now a Merchant in that place— We found the roads remarkably fine, and the Country at 20 Miles distanc from Boston presenting a more favorable appearance. Our journies were between 70 & 80 miles...
60Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 21 May 1793 (Adams Papers)
Your kind letter of the 12 has reached me, in complyance with M r Brieslers request I enclose the Receipt of M rs Lynch. She was in much need of the little assistance, and expressed gratitude for the receipt of it. The Porter also shall be attended to; I have been so fortunate as yet to have received no warning from the owner of our Store— The furniture still rests there and I have some hope...