1Thomas Boylston Adams to William Smith Shaw, 1 March 1799 (Adams Papers)
I am now and then regaled with a few words from your store house, spread over as many lines , which brings to my mind very forcibly the words of Pope. “The weighty bullion” & ca: you know the rest. As yet however I have nothing directly from your hand. I have been playing truant ever since I arrived, and begin to think it high time to attend my office more punctually. We have had Balls and...
2Thomas Boylston Adams to William Smith Shaw, 21 May 1799 (Adams Papers)
Your friendly & excellent letters of the 1 st: & 10 inst t: have reached me at this place, where I arrived the night before last, having passed a few days at Baltimore & Annapolis on my way. My tour has hitherto been highly pleasing to me, and should it conclude as it began, I shall not regret having made it; indeed a more favorable moment could not have occurred, since had I remained in...
3Thomas Boylston Adams to William Smith Shaw, 29 June 1799 (Adams Papers)
I am favored with your’s of the 23 d: inst t: and the enclosures—one of which is herewith returned. The Lieutenant Governor’s address is quite equal to my expectations, and there is little doubt with me, that he will rise a peg higher, merely, or chiefly because the people would not be united in any man of more capacity and talents. If any considerable interval take place prior to a new...
4Thomas Boylston Adams to William Smith Shaw, 8 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
Your’s of the 2 d: is in hand, with the enclosures, which receive thanks. I am sorry you dislike short letters, because I shall make a excuse therefrom for writing more seldom & only when I have matter enough to fill my paper on all sides. Against this I am sure you will protest & on second reflection, will prefer frequent brevity, to scarce prolixity. Among my brothers books you will find...
5Thomas Boylston Adams to William Smith Shaw, 14 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
If it be only to thank you for your favor of the 7 th: I will devote an minute previous to the meeting of Court; I thank you also for the Walpole paper, which entertains and delights me more than any of the literary productions of the Country. If there were an Editor here of the same taste as the Walpole Bard, I should sometimes indulge an itching which besets me for scribling— I know not...
6Thomas Boylston Adams to William Smith Shaw, 29 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
The 26 th: inst t: brought me yours of the 18 th: & the 28 th: that of the 21 st: with accompanyments— Accipe gratias et incepto permanete. You anticipated my request to be informed of how the rituals were this year performed at Alma mater. I am, among other pursuits, attempting to renew my acquaintance with school & College books, for which I own I had little relish while they occupied me as...
7Thomas Boylston Adams to William Smith Shaw, 23 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I received your agreeable birth day tribute the day following the date of my last; since then the deadly pestilence has burst forth again with ten fold violence & every part of the City is more or less infected. The inhabitants are flying in every direction & not a room is left unoccupied at Germantown. I go there but seldom. The Banks & other public Offices are soon expected. New York, we...
8Thomas Boylston Adams to William Smith Shaw, 30 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I enclose, as directed, under cover to you, the Summary statement of services rendered at an important & critical period of our Country’s affairs, by an intelligent, brave, & deserving Officer. I think it an hardship that such merit & such services are so soon obliterated from the recollection or so much out of the knowledge of Gentlemen now in Office, that a statement under the hand of the...
9Thomas Boylston Adams to William Smith Shaw, 8 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have your favor of the 31 st: ult o: with an enclosure for R. Peters Jun r: which shall be delivered as soon as an opportunity of sending it, presents— I have not yet found means to forward the last enclosure you made me—which is rather the effect of misfortune than neglect, though you doubtless will think I have no excuse for being nine weeks within 3 miles of the Bishops, without having...
10Thomas Boylston Adams to William Smith Shaw, 22 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
I received your obliging & copious communication of the 13 th: and render thanks for the trouble you have taken to explain a subject, which had excited my curiosity & interested my feelings, but which, without your aid, I should have been unable to comprehend to my satisfaction. I think it necessary only to observe in reply, that I fully concur in the opinion of the rectitude, propriety &...