121Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 5 January 1790 (Adams Papers)
I begin my Letter with the congratulations of the season, to you and all my other Friends & for many happy returns in Succeeding years. the New years day in this State, & particularly in this city is celebrated with every mark of pleasure and satisfaction. the shops and publick offices are Shut, there is not any market upon this day, but every person laying aside Buisness devote the day to the...
122Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 5 February 1792 (Adams Papers)
I received your kind Letter of dec br and sincerely congratulate you and my Neice upon the Birth of a son, tho I could have wishd it had been a daughter. I have had the pleasure of having mrs smith and William on a visit to me for 5 weeks. the col has been part of the time here & Charles spent a fortnight with me. they expect to leave me in a week or ten days. this would be but a small matter...
123Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 25 June 1795 (Adams Papers)
I yesterday received your Letter giving me an account of the distressd Situation of Sister Smith. I fear her disorder will terminate in a setled distraction Burrel Shall have the Room & bed Room for Mrs Smith at 12 Dollors a Year, but he shall have them only for her that is he shall not consider himself at Liberty to let them to any one else if she should not continue with him. I mention this...
124Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 4 July 1790 (Adams Papers)
A Memorable day in our calender a Church beloning to the dutch congregation is this day to be opened and an oration deliverd. this Church was the scene of misiry & horrour, the Prison where our poor Countrymen were confined, crowded & starved during the War, & which the British afterwards destroyed. it has lately been rebuilt and this day is the first time that they have met in it. they have...
125Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 26 May 1798 (Adams Papers)
yours of the 18 I received on Thursday 23— and I rejoice to hear mr Black got home so soon, as I think he could dissipate your anxiety on our account. I may be too confident, but I do not feel as if any body wanted to hurt or injure us. bearing neither malice or ill will towards any one, not even the most deluded, I cannot be particuliarly apprehensive. I wish the Laws of our Country were...
126Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 7 April 1798 (Adams Papers)
The senate on thursday voted to have the dispatches from our Envoys made publick, and orderd them Printed, but not the instructions. I hope however that those too, will be published; the People will then be convinced that every word Containd in the Presidents message of the 19 of march can be justified both by the instructions given, and by the dispatches received, and that what Jugartha said...
127Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 11 May 1787 (Adams Papers)
Captain Callihans delay gives me an other opportunity of writing you, tho I have nothing material to add, but that I have pleasd my fancy in a peice of chintz which I have sent to my Neices. when I first came to this country near 3 years ago I bought one for mrs smith & an other for myself like it. it wore so well, washt so nice, & lookd so pretty; that I have been frequently seeking the same...
128Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 13 October 1797 (Adams Papers)
we arrived here on twesday Evening on the 11 th , after a pleasent journey in which we met with but few obstructions the Weather on one Day prevented our travelling, and we tarried on sunday at Hartford, and on Monday morning were escorted out of Town by a Troop of light Horse, and the citizens in carriages and on Horse back as far as Weathersfield. we proceed then for New Haven about 40 miles...
129Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 6 October 1766 (Adams Papers)
I wrote to you a week ago, and sent my Letter part of the way, but like a bad penny it returnd, to me again. This I write in hopes that it will reach you this week by Sister. Your Letter I received and it gave me both pleasure and pain, it rejoiced my heart to hear from you, and it pained me to hear how Ill Mr. Cranch had been, and how low he still was. Many are the afflictions of the...
130Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 3 November 1789 (Adams Papers)
I did not receive your Letter dated 25 untill sunday Evening which made it too late to write by the last post in replie to it. I do not know any thing that I wisht more for than to have past the winter at my own House for a summer situation this place is delightfull & the House convenient, and except its being Bleak and perhaps difficult of access in some parts of a severe winter, it is more...
131Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 21 February 1798 (Adams Papers)
I received your kind Letter of Feb’ ry 9th and was quite rejoic’d to hear that mrs Baxter was like to do well, when I feard to open the Letter least it should inform me of her death. I have been Confined with a cold like the influenza for several days past. I have dreaded least it should prove one of my Feb’ ry attacks. it came on with a very soar Throat and hoarsness and terminated in...
132Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 29 July 1798 (Adams Papers)
we left Philadelphia on Wedensday last. the day preceeding was very Hot a partial Rain had waterd the Roads for 15 or 20 miles So as to render the first part of our journey pleasent. we were overtaken by showers—and detaind by them, but on thursday we found clouds of dust for want of Rain. troops and calvacades did not lessen it, and the Heat was intolerably oppressive, so much so as to nearly...
133Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 13 June 1790 (Adams Papers)
I received your Letter of May 16. and was very happy to find that you were all upon the recovery. we have daily mercies to be thankfull for, tho no state is exempt from trouble and vexation. the one which at present Torments me is the apprehension of a Removal from a very delightfull situation, to I know not where, and I am too short sighted, or too much blinded, to see any real advantage from...
134Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 24 May 1797 (Adams Papers)
I keep up My old Habit of rising at an early hour. if I did not I should have little command of my Time at 5 I rise from that time till 8 I have a few leisure hours. at 8 I breakfast, after which untill Eleven I attend to my Family arrangements. at that hour I dress for the Day. from 12 untill two I receive company, sometimes untill 3. we dine at that hour unless on company days, which are...
135Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 2 August 1784 (Adams Papers)
Before Mr. Smith went away I had no opportunity to ask Master John a Question but in company. I find by his accounts that Some Letters are gone to America the contents of which should they come into your hands; I hope you will keep wholy to yourself. I own I am rather surprized at them, and I think I may rely upon your prudence, and all connected with you to keep them intirely to yourselves. I...
136Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 12–14 December 1790 (Adams Papers)
I have received your two kind Letters one dated in october the 30 day I think & the 14 of Nov br as the last came by a private Hand it did not reach me till last Evening. you will suppose that I might have written to you long e’er this, but as my letters would only have been a detail of grivences and troubles I was reluctant at taking my pen, and put it of from day to day. I reachd this city...
137Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 20–21 March 1792 (Adams Papers)
I have obliged Louissa, much against her judgment, to give me a pen Ink and paper, that I might mak an effort however feeble to write a few lines to my dear sister Tis now the sixth week since I have been out of the door of this Chamber, or moved in a larger circle than from my Bed to the chair I was taken six weeks ago very ill with an Inflamitory Rhumatism and tho it did not totally deprive...
138Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, ca. 18 October 1800 (Adams Papers)
It is a great Grief to me my dear sister that I can do so little for you in your trouble when I owe So Much to you. beside being much of an invalide myself Jackson is very sick keeps his Bed—and a thousand cares devolve upon me in concequence of the sudden determination very reluctantly enterd into from a sense at this late period, without any previous arrangment— but all this is small in...
139Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 27 July 1790 (Adams Papers)
I received your kind Letter of july 4 th the articles sent by captain Barnard all arrived in good order, and I have to acknowledg mr Cranchs kind care in attending to them. you have got through commencment and I hope have not been made sick with the trouble and fatigue. we had a pleasent day here, not over Hot and I pleasd, myself with the hope that it was so with you. We got Thursdays paper,...
140Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 18 April 1791 (Adams Papers)
This day fortnight the 2 of May we propose to set out on our journey to Braintree. it will be the middle of May I presume before we arrive there if we meet with no accident, So that I will thank you to attend a little to my Garden have Some sallid sewn and what ever else you think proper I wrote to you not long since requesting you to let me know what you thought I might want. you will not...
141Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 25 February 1787 (Adams Papers)
Captain Davis called yesterday to let me know that he should sail in the course of the week. Captain Barnard will not be long after him, and I almost wish I was going to embark with him. I think I should not feel more anxious if I was in the midst of all the disturbances, than I do at this Distance, where Imagination is left at full Liberty. When Law and justice is laid prostrait who or what...
142Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 20 February 1790 (Adams Papers)
I yesterday received a Letter from dr Tufts and an other from Thomas informing me of the death of Mrs Palmer. the good old Lady is gone to rest, happily for her I doubt not, but what will become of her daughters Heaven only knows, Polly in particular. I feel very unhappy for them, and you I am sure must be still more so. I suppose you was too heavily loaded with care, and affliction to write...
143Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 10 February 1788 (Adams Papers)
Since I have had any opportunity of conveyence to my dear Sister, I have received from her Letters of the following dates August 19 Sep br 23. & 30th october 21 & Nov br 14 th. the contents of which have variously affected me— The Scripture tells us that it is better to go to the House of mourning than the House of Feasting. to that I think I have oftener been calld through the progress of...
144Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 31 January 1767 (Adams Papers)
I have just returnd from Weymouth, where I have been for a week past. It seems lonesome here, for My Good Man is at Boston; after haveing been in a large family, for a week, to come and set down alone is very solitary; tho we have seven in our family, yet four of them being domestick when my partner is absent and my Babe a sleep, I am still left alone. It gives one a pleasing Sensation my Dear...
145Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 11 December 1799 (Adams Papers)
I received this week Your Letters of Nov br. 24 th and 28 th , and this morning Yours of dec br 3d, the contents of which gave me much pleasure. it will be a real subject of rejoicing to me, if we obtain mr Whitney for our pastor; it will greatly add to the pleasure I anticipate upon my return to Quincy to find that we are in possession of a Gentleman of mr Whitneys known and acknowledged...
146Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 26 January 1786 (Adams Papers)
A mr Anstey who is appointed by the British Goverment to visit the different States; for the purpose of assertaining the claims of the Loyalists, is going out in the Newyork packet. He dinned here on twesday. His manners are much in his favour, he appears well bred sensible and modest, a real Gentleman in his appearence. He was so kind as to offer to take Letters for us. As mr Adams and col...
147Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 5 March 1798 (Adams Papers)
I received on saturday Evening the 3 d March Your kind Letter of 25 Feb’ ry. You estimate much too highly the little services I am able to render to my Friends, and you depreciate the value of your own, the benifit of which I have too often experienced to Sit lightly by them, for whilst you visit the widow the orphan, the sick, and console them by your presense, enliven them by your...
148Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 24 April 1800 (Adams Papers)
It is with great pleasure my dear sister that I can say to you, Your Son has recoverd from a Dangerous complaint which threw us all here into great Distress and anxiety upon his account. he returnd from court sick. it proved to be a Billious Cholic. mr Johnson wrote Mrs Johnson that he had been to see him, but that he was so ill that he could not be seen. the Children too were all Sick, and...
149Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 8 August 1790 (Adams Papers)
I have the pleasure to inform you that last Night mrs Smith got to Bed with an other fine Boy. We could have all wisht it had been a Girl, but rest satisfied with the sex as it a very fine large handsome Boy and both mother and child are well. She spent the day with me on fryday, and I urged her as I had Several times before, to accept a Room here, and lie in here, as the house in which she is...
150Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 29 August 1790 (Adams Papers)
I last Night received your Letter which I have long expected, dated 9 th of August, and thank you for your account of commencment, as well as your care. I have written to you a number of times and wonderd much at not hearing from you. by dr Jeffries I wrote you an account of mrs Smiths getting well to Bed. She is very cleverly and has been once out to see me tho only three weeks last Night...