1Abigail Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 20 September 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
your kind and Friendly Letter found me in great affliction for the loss of my dear and only daughter, mrs smith She had been with me only three weeks having undertaken a journey from the State of N york , desirious once more to See her parents, and to close her days under the paternal roof She was accompanied by her Son and daughter , who made every exeertion to get her here, and gratify what...
2Thomas Jefferson to Abigail Adams, 22 August 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
A kind note at the foot of mr Adams’s letter of July 15. reminds me of the duty of saluting you with friendship and respect; a duty long suspended by the unremitting labors of public engagement, and which ought to have been sooner revived, since I am become proprietor of my own time. and yet so it is, that in no course of life have I been ever more closely pressed by business than in the...
3John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 15 July 1813, with Postscript from Abigail Adams to Thomas Jefferson, [ca. 15 July 1813] (Jefferson Papers)
Never mind it, my dear Sir, if I write four Letters to your one: your one is worth more than my four. It is true that I can Say and have Said nothing new on the Subject of Government. yet I did Say in my Defence and in my Discourses on Davila, though in an uncouth Style, what was new to Lock , to Harrington , to Milton , to Hume to Montesquieu to Reauseau , to Turgot , Condorcet
4From James Madison to Abigail Adams, 15 August 1810 (Madison Papers)
I have received your letter of the 1st. instant. Altho’ I have not learned that Mr. Adams has yet signified to the Department of State his wish to return from the Mission to St. Petersburg, it is sufficiently ascertained by your communication, as well as satisfactorily explained by the considerations suggested. I have accordingly desired the Secretary of State to let him understand that as it...
5To James Madison from Abigail Adams, 1 August 1810 (Madison Papers)
I take the Liberty of addressing you in behalf of my son, now at st petersburgh, and to ask of you, permission for his return to his native Country. I hope you may have already received, through the Secretary of State, his own request to this effect. From Several Letters which I have received from Mrs Adams, I have been led to think their Situation very unpleasent, as it respected their...
6Abigail Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 25 October 1804 (Adams Papers)
Sickness for three weeks past, has prevented my acknowledging the receipt of Your Letter of Sep’ br th 11 th. when I first addrest You I little thought of entering into a correspondence with you upon political topicks. I will not however regreet it, since it has led to Some Elucidations and brought on some explanations, which place in a more favourable light occurrences which had wounded me....
7To Thomas Jefferson from Abigail Adams, 25 October 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Sickness for three weeks past, has prevented my acknowledging the receipt of your Letter of Septr. the 11th. when I first addrest you , I little thought of entering into a correspondence with you upon political topicks. I will not however regret it, since it has led to some Elucidations and brought on some explanations, which place in a more favourable light occurrences which had wounded me....
8Abigail Adams to Louisa Catherine Adams, 15 October 1804 (Adams Papers)
I congratulate You my Dear Louissa, that our loss is to be your gain. Mr Adams leaves us on twesday for Washington, where I hope he will arrive in Safety, and have a joyfull meeting with his family. I know from frequent experience how painfull it is to be thus Seperated— I hope when he returns next Spring that You will be able to come with him, and that we may make Quincy an agreable residence...
9Sarah Manning Vaughan to Abigail Adams, 22 September 1804 (Adams Papers)
Permit me to introduce to your friendly notice our eldest Son & daughter who mean to stay a short time in Boston, and are desirous of paying their respects to you & M r. Adams— I flatter myself they are virtuous & amiable & that you will not be displeased with them, they have had but few advantages of education beyond what they could find at home. They will not I fear notwithstanding their...
10Thomas Jefferson to Abigail Adams, 11 September 1804 (Adams Papers)
Your letter, Madam, of the 18 th. of Aug. has been some days recieved, but a press of business has prevented the acknolegement of it: perhaps indeed I may have already trespassed too far on your attention. with those who wish to think amiss of me, I have learnt to be perfectly indifferent: but where I know a mind to be ingenuous, & to need only truth to set it to rights, I cannot be as...
11From Thomas Jefferson to Abigail Adams, 11 September 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter, Madam, of the 18th. of Aug. has been some days recieved, but a press of business has prevented the acknolegement of it: perhaps indeed I may have already trespassed too far on your attention. with those who wish to think amiss of me, I have learnt to be perfectly indifferent: but where I know a mind to be ingenuous, & to need only truth to set it to rights, I cannot be as passive....
12Abigail Adams to Hannah Phillips Cushing, 1 September 1804 (Adams Papers)
I received Your very friendly Letter Yesterday and thank You for Your communication which I assure You gave me heartfelt pleasure. I only have to regreet that a friend of mine did not close with the advise I gave him at the time when he perhaps might have been successfull, tho he listned to me with much attention, and was sorry he did not know the Lady. I fancy he had made some overtones to...
13Abigail Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 18 August 1804 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of July 22d was by Some mistake in the post office at Boston Sent back as far as Newyork, so that it did not reach me untill the Eleventh of this Month. Candour requires of me a reply. Your statement respecting Callender, (who was the Wretch referd to) and Your motives for liberating him, wear a different aspect as explaind by You, from the impression which they had made, not only...
14To Thomas Jefferson from Abigail Adams, 18 August 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
your Letter of July 22d was by some mistake in the post office at Boston sent back as far as Newyork, so that it did not reach me untill the Eleventh of this Month. Candour requires of me a reply. your statement reuspecting Callender, (who was the wretch referd to) and your motives for liberating him, wear a different aspect as explaind by you, from the impression which they had made, not only...
15Thomas Jefferson to Abigail Adams, 22 July 1804 (Adams Papers)
Your favor of the 1 st. inst. was duly recieved, and I would not again have intruded on you but to rectify certain facts which seem not to have been presented to you under their true aspect. my charities to Callender are considered as rewards for his calumnies. as early, I think, as 1796. I was told in Philadelphia that Callendar, the author of the Political progress of Britain, was in that...
16From Thomas Jefferson to Abigail Adams, 22 July 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 1st. inst. was duly recieved, and I would not again have intruded on you but to rectify certain facts which seem not to have been presented to you under their true aspect. my charities to Callendar are considered as rewards for his calumnies. as early, I think, as 1796. I was told in Philadelphia that Callendar, the author of the Political progress of Britain, was in that...
17Abigail Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 1 July 1804 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of June 13 th came duly to hand; if it had contained no other Sentiments and opinions than those which my Letter of condolence could have excited, and which are expressed in the first page of Your reply, our correspondence would have terminated here; but you have been pleased to enter upon some subjects which call for a reply; and as you observe that You have wished for an...
18To Thomas Jefferson from Abigail Adams, 1 July 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Your Letter of June 13th came duly to hand; if it had contained no other sentiments and opinions than those which my Letter of condolence could have excited, and which are expressed in the first page of your reply, our correspondence would have terminated here: but you have been pleased to enter upon some Subjects which call for a reply: and as you observe that you have wished for an...
19Thomas Jefferson to Abigail Adams, 13 June 1804 (Adams Papers)
The affectionate sentiments which you have had the goodness to express in your letter of May 20. towards my dear departed daughter, have awakened in me sensibilities natural to the occasion, & recalled your kindnesses to her which I shall ever remember with gratitude & friendship. I can assure you with truth they had made an indelible impression on her mind, and that, to the last, on our...
20From Thomas Jefferson to Abigail Adams, 13 June 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
The affectionate sentiments which you have had the goodness to express in your letter of May 20. towards my dear departed daughter, have awakened in me sensibilities natural to the occasion, & recalled your kindnesses to her which I shall ever remember with gratitude & friendship. I can assure you with truth they had made an indelible impression on her mind, and that, to the last, on our...
21Abigail Adams to Louisa Catherine Adams, 21 May 1804 (Adams Papers)
Altho I have not written to you Since the return of Your Husband to Quincy, I have had the pleasure of hearing weekly from you through him; and of learning that You, and the Children are well. I want to see the Dear Boys, and regreet that they are like to be so long Seperated from me. George will forget us and John cannot know us. I have a great opinion of childrens being early attached to...
22Abigail Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 20 May 1804 (Adams Papers)
Had You been no other than the private inhabitant of Montecello, I should e’er this time have addrest you, with that Sympathy, which a recent event has awakend in my Bosom. but reasons of various kinds withheld my pen, untill the powerfull feelings of my heart, have burst through the restraint, and called upon me to shed the tear of sorrow over the departed remains, of Your beloved and...
23To Thomas Jefferson from Abigail Adams, 20 May 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Had you been no other than the private inhabitant of Montecello, I should e’er this time have addrest you, with that sympathy, which a recent event has awakend in my Bosom. but reasons of various kinds withheld my pen, untill the powerfull feelings of my heart, have burst through the restraint, and called upon me to shed the tear of sorrow over the departed remains, of your beloved and...
24Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody to Abigail Adams, 16 April 1804 (Adams Papers)
When your Son delivered me your kind letter, little did I think, it would be so long, before I should reply. But my youngest Girl went home the Saturday after, & I have had a round of heavy cares upon me eversince. It was ten weeks before we could get any other Girl, & in some of the worst cold weather, & dreadful Storms which has proved quite too much for Lydia & me. But it could not be...
25John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 15 March 1804 (Adams Papers)
A few days since, I received your kind favour of 25. ult o: and am greatly rejoyced at the restoration of your health— But I have delayed answering it hitherto, because as the Session draws to a close, we find ourselves more driven for want of time; in addition to which we have had the extraordinary business of trying an impeachment, and I have been in trouble with illness in the family— Both...
26Mary Otis Lincoln to Abigail Adams, 11 March 1804 (Adams Papers)
I live in that retired manner that affords much time for reflection, which must be my apology for addressing you at this time, as memory has been so kind as to present you very frequently of late as one that has ever taken an interesd in my welfare. And I can say that Friendship has indeed been the Wine of life to me. I feel that you are not indefferent to the happiness of me and my dear...
27Abigail Adams to John Quincy Adams, 24 February 1804 (Adams Papers)
We have this Day quite and old fashiond Snow Storm, after an unusual pleasent Feb’ ry . the Snow is much deeper and more Drifted than We have had, for Several Winters. the wind Very high at North-East, from our parlour Windows the Stone walls are not to be Seen. it began yesterday noon to snow, after Evening, the wind rose, and has continued through the night, and to this time without...
28Louisa Catherine Adams to Abigail Adams, 11 February 1804 (Adams Papers)
I received your two kind letters which gave me much pleasure as they informed me of your returning health I am sorry to tell you that M rs. Cranch still continues very ill although much better I called on her last week but was not admitted to see her as she still kept her bed We live so far from M rs. Cranch I did not hear of her illness untill ten days after she lost her child the Children...
29John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 27 January 1804 (Adams Papers)
Your kind favour of the 10 th: inst t: came to hand last evening— And I would take this opportunity to request that all letters for me from Quincy, may be put in to the post-office there; without waiting to send them to Boston— I shall thus get them sooner— My own letters too I hope go directly to Quincy.— My brother I imagine will be satisfied with the frequency of my writing or inclosing...
30Abigail Adams to John Quincy Adams, 23 January 1804 (Adams Papers)
I am sorry to say that I write you from my Sick Chamber, where I have been confined for near a week with the Severest attack of the Rhumatism Which I have experienced for many Years in my Limbs. I hope it will not be very durable, but Submission is my lesson, and patience my Study— We last Evening received the port folio containing the Character of your much Loved Friend. I read it with a...