1John Adams to Abigail Adams 2d, 19 September 1774 (Adams Papers)
I have received your pretty Letter, and it has given me a great deal of Pleasure, both as it is a Token of your Duty and Affection to me and as it is a Proof of your Improvement in your hand Writing and in the faculties of the Mind.—I am very sorry to hear of your Grand Mamma’s Indisposition: but I hope soon to hear of her Recovery. Present my Love to your Mamma, and to your Brothers, Johnny,...
2John Adams to Abigail Adams 2d, 20 October 1775 (Adams Papers)
I condole with you, most sincerely, for the loss of your most worthy grandmamma. I know you must be afflicted at this severe stroke. She was an excellent instructress to you, and a bright example of every amiable virtue. Her piety and benevolence; her charity; her prudence, patience, and wisdom, would have been, if it had pleased God to spare her life, an admirable model for you to copy. But...
3John Adams to Abigail Adams 2d, 18 April 1776 (Adams Papers)
I cannot recollect the tenderness and dutiful affection you expressed for me, just before my departure, without the most sensible emotion, approbation, and gratitude. It was a proof of an amiable disposition, and a tender feeling heart. But my dear child, be of good cheer; although I am absent from you for a time, it is in the way of my duty; and I hope to return, some time or other, and enjoy...
4John Adams to Abigail Adams 2d, 17 March 1777 (Adams Papers)
I hope by this Time, you can write an handsome Hand; but I wish you would, now and then, send a Specimen of it, to Philadelphia to your Pappa, that he may have the Pleasure of observing the Pro ficiency you make, not only in your Hand Writing, but in your turn of Thinking, and in your Faculty of expressing your Thoughts. You have discovered, in your Childhood, a remarkable Modesty,...
5John Adams to Abigail Adams 2d, 30 March 1777 (Adams Papers)
I have been this Afternoon, to a Place of Worship, which I never attended before. It is the Church of the Scotch Seceeders. They have a tolerable Building, but not yet finished. The Congregation is not large, and the People are not very genteel. The Clergyman, who officiates here, is a Mr. Marshall, a Native of Scotland, whose Speech is yet thick and broad, altho he has officiated in this...
6John Adams to Abigail Adams 2d, 5 July 1777 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday, being the anniversary of American Independence, was celebrated here with a festivity and ceremony becoming the occasion. I am too old to delight in pretty descriptions, if I had a talent for them, otherwise a picture might be drawn, which would please the fancy of a Whig, at least. The thought of taking any notice of this day, was not conceived, until the second of this month, and...
7John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams 2d, 27 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
it is some time since I wrote you a Letter & if I should neglect it a great while longer you would have no right to complain because you have been negligent in writing to me. however I think I will not take advantage of you. But what Subject Shall I write you upon as you have now the honour to be miss in her your teens I suppose you begin to look about the world for Diversion if you was here...
8John Adams to Abigail Adams 2d, 2 December 1778 (Adams Papers)
In your letter to your brother, which is a very pretty one, you express a wish that you understood French. At your age, it is not difficult to learn that language; patience and perseverance is all that is wanting. There are two ways, which are sure. One is to transcribe, every day, some passages from the best authors. Another is to conjugate the verbs, in writing, through all the modes and...
9Abigail Adams 2d to Elizabeth Cranch, 1 January 1779 (Adams Papers)
I take my pen to perform my promice of writing to you and to wish you a happy new year may heaven pour down those blessings upon you that will make this life agreable this is an unsertain World we know not what a day may bringh forth & when we think we are in the utmost dainger we may be in the least Mrs. Waren has lately had a severe trial of her fortitude A Son as it ware raisd from the arms...
10Abigail Adams 2d to Elizabeth Cranch, 24 January 1779 (Adams Papers)
Last weak I had the pleasure to receive too letters from my friend Myrtilla, aney time when you have letters if you send them to Brackets and dirrect them to General Waren or his Laidie, they will come safe to hand; you must cover them if you intend I shall read them first: I should have wrote you a longer letter by this opportunity but am prevented by an accident, which has taken up my...
11Abigail Adams 2d to Elizabeth Cranch, 4 February 1779 (Adams Papers)
If aney person had told me the night I left Braintree that I should have ben at Plymouth almost seven weaks and have received only one letter from my Mamma and too from my Myrtilla I should have thought they ware capable of telling a falshood but I find it too true. I had almost taken up a resollution not to have wrote to aney of my Braintree friends untill I had received letters from them,...
12Abigail Adams to Abigail Adams 2d, 11 February 1779 (Adams Papers)
It is with inexpressible pleasure that I enclose to you a letter from your brother, and that I can tell you, that I last night received four letters of various dates from your papa, and one so late as the 6th of November. I would send forward the letters, but know not how to part with them. Your papa writes that he has enjoyed uncommon health for him, since his arrival in France; that your...
13Abigail Adams 2d to Elizabeth Cranch, 13 February 1779 (Adams Papers)
It is now past ten however I will write you a few lines as I flatter myself they will be axcepttable, for you know we ar too apt to judge others by our own feelings. I will ask you one question whetheir if you have an opportunity to write me you dont imbrace it if you dont happen to be in dept debt ? If we ware too or three hundred miles distant I could expect to hear as often from you as I do...
14Abigail Adams 2d to Elizabeth Cranch, 15 March 1779 (Adams Papers)
As a convenient opportunity offoring by General Warren I cannot let it excape without a line for my Myrtilla. I now take up my pen to inform you that I do not feel in the writing humour and am determind to indulge myself and give way to thease Lazy freeks. I shall take my pen in the eve again and will give you an account how I shall have spent the afternoon for I am now already trigd to...
15Abigail Adams 2d to Elizabeth Cranch, 20 October 1779 (Adams Papers)
I have began too or three letters to you but have burnt them, all for reasons that you need not be inquisitive to know. If they had been fit for your perusal you should have seen them: I have just returned from Germantown, my favourite Miss Mayhew is there, in as good spirits as usual. Our friend Amanda talks of leaveing Ger manto wn her mamma has sent for her, I had not time to ask her why....
16John Adams to Abigail Adams 2d, 12 December 1779 (Adams Papers)
If I could send you some of the Lemons, Oranges, or Water Melons of this Place, it would give me more Pleasure than you. But there are very seldom merchant Vessells at this Place from America. We are here in the Latitude of 43, which is better than half a degree farther north than Boston, yet there has not yet been the slightest frost. The Verdure on the Fields and in the Gardens is as fresh...
17Abigail Adams 2d to John Quincy Adams, 24 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
And are you really determined my Dear Brother not to condescend to write to your Sister again till She has answered some of your letters. I must acknowledge myself rather in arrears, but you must consider that you are daily removing from one scene to another, new and pleasing objects continually engage your attention, and furnish you with new subjects and pleasing ideas which if related by you...
18Abigail Adams 2d to John Thaxter, 25 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
My mamma has so often reminded me of a deficiency in politeness in not replying to your letter which is now too long out of date to answer, that I can no longer withstand her frequent solicit at ions, and an opportunity offering by Mr. Charles Storer I am prevailed upon to take your attention from more important subjects to the perusal of a letter which will afford no pleasure but as it will...
19John Thaxter to Abigail Adams 2d, 25 August 1781 (Adams Papers)
I was yesterday honoured with a Letter from Braintree dated the 25th of May last, and tho’ an anonymous one, yet the hand writing, connected with other Circumstances, warranted my subjoining the Signature of the amiable and accomplished Daughter of one of the first Ladies of the Age, to whose Goodness added to your Politeness I am indebted for this mark of Attention. I have embraced the first...
20Abigail Adams 2d to Elizabeth Cranch, April 1782 (Adams Papers)
Knowing your benevolent heart is ever gratified by hearing of the wellfare of your friends, and feeling a disposition to scrible, you Eliza first claim my attention. I hope ere this your health and spirits are perfectly restored and every one of the family to their usual chearfulness. Do not my Dear Girl dwell too long on the dark side of affairs, it impairs your health and sinks your spirits....
21Abigail Adams 2d to John Quincy Adams, 3 May 1782 (Adams Papers)
I am conscious my dear Brother that I have appeared deficient in my duty and affection by neglecting to write you often. I have very little encouragement to continue a correspondance without any return from you. I do not believe you deficient in writing; it is a disagreable circumstance that we receive so small a part of the letters that are written. Mamma has receiv’d letters from Pappa and...
22Abigail Adams 2d to Elizabeth Cranch, June 1782 (Adams Papers)
I have not heard a word from B— since Wedensday last. I want much to know how you all do. I wrote you last Saturday. Mrs. Quincy took my letter yesterday. Hope you have received it. You will not complain of my not writing you I bleive, my letters can give you little pleasure only as they are dictated by a heart that rearly loves you. My affection for you is an inducement for my writing you at...
23John Adams to Abigail Adams 2d, 26 September 1782 (Adams Papers)
I have received your charming letter, which you forgot to date, by Mrs. Rogers. Your proposal of coming to Europe to keep your papa’s house and take care of his health, is in a high strain of filial duty and affection, and the idea pleases me much in speculation, but not at all in practice. I have too much tenderness for you, my dear child, to permit you to cross the Atlantic. You know not...
24Abigail Adams 2d to Elizabeth Cranch, September 1782 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Robbins dined with us to day and has just now told me he intends to make you a vis this afternoon. I hope he will find you quite recovered, and wish you were to return with him. I shall want the pleasure of your company a Wedensy very much—and wish I could offer a sufficient inducement for you to return, tomorrow or next day. I know of nothing to write that will either amuse or give you...
25Abigail Adams 2d to Elizabeth Cranch, 2 October 1782 (Adams Papers)
No Eliza I do not believe your real affection has decreased for Amelia, but a consiousness of my even doing wrong sometimes leads me to feel neglected, when, perhaps , I am not. But do not say that you love me better every time you converse with me. I must believe you sincere and this belief will lead me for the first time to dought your judgement. I do not say this to be contradicted. It is...
26John Adams to Abigail Adams 2d, 16 October 1782 (Adams Papers)
Your obliging letter of 3d September, I have received, and read with all the tenderness of a father deprived of the dearest, and almost the only enjoyment of his life, his family. I never receive a packet from your mamma without a fit of melancholy that I cannot get over for many days. Mine has been a hard lot in life, so hard that nothing would have rendered it supportable, especially for the...
27Abigail Adams 2d to Elizabeth Cranch, 9 November 1782 (Adams Papers)
A constant succession of company, is all I have to offer in vindication of my appearant inattention, to my Eliza. Not a moment have I been able to devote, to writing since your absense till these few days past. I have sometime lamented, but solely upon self interested motives, that it has not been in my power to write you. My fancy paints your situation, as agreed. Mrs. Warren, as ever,...
28John Adams to Abigail Adams 2d, 4 December 1782 (Adams Papers)
Your Solicitude for your Papa is charming: But he is afraid to trust you to the uncertain Elements, and what is infinitely more mischievous, the follies and depravities of the old world, which is quite as bad as that before the Flood. He has therefore determined to come to you, in America, next Summer, if not next Spring. Duty and Affections where due. RC or Dupl , in Charles Storer’s hand (...
29Abigail Adams 2d to Elizabeth Cranch, 19 December 1782 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday, my Dear Eliza, I came here to pass a few days with our friend. I found her much indisposed. She is better to day, and has flattered me by saying, my company has been of service, to her. I wish I could feel conscious that this is not the result of her complasance. You are now seated in Boston—agreeably—I hope. You aught to be happy, for to deprive your friends of so great a degree of...
30Abigail Adams 2d to Elizabeth Cranch, 22 December 1782 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday my Dear Eliza I returned from G ermantown and this morning, it being our usual post day, I received your letter and take the earlyest opportunity to acknowledge and answer it. Your late excursion to Boston has given you spirits. I was not conscious that my letter breathed more of friendship, or of Love, than usual, the most reasonable construction I can put upon, this curious rant of...