41Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 19 July – 7 August 1785 (Adams Papers)
I have been waiting till I am out of all patience to hear that you are returnd to England. One or two vessels have sail’d for London without taking Letters for you. I did not know they were going till it was too late to write. I sent you a hasty line by Mr. Charles Bulfinch which I hope you receiv’d and to tell you the truth I have written you two letters Since, which I thought proper to...
42Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 14 August 1785 (Adams Papers)
I have just Sent away one Letter and shall now begin another to be ready for the next ship. Cousin John is not yet arriv’d. I hear of him upon the road. He has not quite done his duty. He should have written to one of his uncles at least as soon as he came on Shore, but I will not chide him without hearing his reasons, I feel inclin’d to be very partial to him. I have just heard that cousin...
43Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 15 August 1785 (Adams Papers)
When I wrote you by Captain Dashood, I was obliged for want of time to break of before I had noticed certain parts of your Letter, some of which gave me anxiety, particularly that which related to a certain Gentleman, of whose present affairs, or future intentions we know nothing of. I had written to you upon this Subject but not having time to transcribe more than half my Letter, that part...
44Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 11 September 1785 (Adams Papers)
I have enjoyed very good Health ever since I came to London, untill ten days past. I had about a week since a small attack of the Fall disorder which I hoped I had got the better of. The next seizure was such a swiming in my Head when I laid down in the Bed, as to throw me almost into convulsions. It finally produced a violent puking which relieved me of that, tho I cannot say I feel well. You...
45Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 30 September 1785 (Adams Papers)
Your kind Letters of July and August are before me. I thank you most sincerely for the particular manner in which you write; I go along with you, and take an interest in every transaction which concerns those I love. And I enjoy more pleasure from those imaginary Scenes, than I do from the drawing room at St. James’s. In one I feel my self your Friend and equal, in the other I know I am looked...
46Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 1 October 1785 (Adams Papers)
I told you in my last, that I was going to dine with my Friend Mrs. Rogers. You must know that yesterday the whole Diplomatick Choir dinned here, that is his Lordship the Marquiss of Carmarthan and all the Foreign Ministers 15 in all, and to day the Newspapers proclaim it. I believe they have as many Spies here as the Police of France. Upon these occasions no Ladies are admitted, so I wrote a...
47John Quincy Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 8 October 1785 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Thaxter will want a horse in a short time, to go a journey, and I should be glad, if mine is not wanted, that Charles should come with him; as he desires to. He will then be of some service and of no expense; if Uncle Tufts thinks proper, Charles can ride the horse here, when he comes. But if he does not think it for the best, will you favour me with a Line that I may inform Mr. Thaxter....
48Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 23 October 1785 (Adams Papers)
I hope my dear Sister you have receiv’d the Letter You was looking for in Callahan. I think I did not send it till the next Ship Saild. I have put a very long letter aboard this Ship a month since, supposing she would sail in a few days. Last night I receiv’d your Letter of the i6th of august and am not a little surpriz’d at the contents. My dear Niece has acted with a Spirit worthy of her...
49Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 8 November 1785 (Adams Papers)
Although I have written so largly to you by the last vessels that Saild I cannot bear to let another go without a few Lines. I have not yet receiv’d your Letters by Charles Storer. He is not come to Boston. I am anxious to receive them. I want to know what it is, whether any thing in particular has happen’d to make my Neice take such a determin’d part with regard to a certain Gentleman. He is...
50Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 29 November 1785 (Adams Papers)
How provoking it is to be told that a vessel is to sail next week with our Letters and then have it stay in the Harbour six Weeks. I thought till yesterday that Capn. Young was half way to London at least, and behold he will not leave Boston this week. The Letters will be so old, that they will lose much of their value, but tis no fault of mine. I have been waiting some time without writing...
51Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 10 December 1785 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Storer is arriv’d and I have got my Letter and am very sorry to hear you have been so sick. If I had receiv’d this Letter before those by Callahan I should have been very uneasey till I could have heard again. I Will hope you are by this time perfectly recover’d. You will see by mine of November 29th that our thoughts in September and October were imploy’d about the same melancholy...
52Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 18 December 1785 (Adams Papers)
I did not design to write another line till I could get my pen mendid but not a creature can I get to do it, and I am so affraid that Captain Lyde will sail without my Pacquit that I dare not venture to wait till the children come from college tomorrow. I hope to see the dear Boys, and if the ship should not go so soon as I expect I will write again. I shall certainly write by the way of New...
53Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 23 December 1785 (Adams Papers)
I wonder whether Mr. Shaw ever wrote you an account of the good woman who was so much offendid that you were not treated with more civillity when you went to see the King and Queen. “Why I hear they did not so much as ask them to set down, but keept them standing four hours without offering them any thing to eat or drink. I thought such great Folks knew what good manners was, better than to...
54Abigail 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...
55Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 9 February 1786 (Adams Papers)
The vacancy is up and our Sons are just return’d to their Studies at college. Were they Brothers they could not be fonder of each other than they now are. They have spent eight or Ten days at Haverhill, and have rov’d about visiting their Friends till they both long’d heartily for the methodical Life they left at Cambridge. I have promiss’d them a chamber and a Fire too themselves if they...
56Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 26 February 1786 (Adams Papers)
To you I am largely indebted for domestick intelligence and many valuable Letters. I have not found a single opportunity of writing to you since captain Callihan saild, except by way of Newyork which I have improved but once least I should put you to expence. Col Smith wrote a few lines in my Name to Mr Cranch with a bundle of Newspapers which he said should go by a private hand. I did not...
57Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 15 March 1786 (Adams Papers)
Mrs Hay call’d upon me a sunday whilst I was gone to meeting to let me know that She expected to Sail in a few days for Newyork. When I saw her before she determined to go out in captain Lyde who will not go till the middle of April, but Captain Cooper is a British Bottom, and on board of him they will not have algerines to fear. I cannot but think She is right. I freely own I should be loth...
58Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 21 March 1786 (Adams Papers)
I have just returnd from a visit to Moor Place Moor feilds, Where I have been to take leave of my much esteemed Friends, mr and Mrs Rogers, who set out on wedensday for France, and from thence are to sail in the April Packet for Newyork. Mr Rogers thinks it most for his benifit, and those connected with him, to quit England, and endeavour to adjust his affairs himself in America. She...
59Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 22 March 1786 (Adams Papers)
Your Son JQA is become a son of Harvard. He was admited last wednesday, and we are now prepairing him for House-keeping. He has a chamber with one of the Masters till commencment, then He and his Brother charles will live together if they can. The young Gentleman finds the Bed and Linnen. I have taken the Furniture for the Chamber from your House a few things were to be purchased at Boston....
60Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 6 April 1786 (Adams Papers)
Altho I was at a stupid Route at the sweedish ministers last Evening, I got home about 12 and rose early this morning to get a few thinks ready to send out by Lyde. When a Body has attended one of these parties; you know the whole of the entertainment. There were about 2 hundred persons present last evening, three large rooms full of card tables. The moment the ceremony of curtsying is past,...
61Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 24 April 1786 (Adams Papers)
Captain Cushing is arrived. Mr Adams this day received Some letters by the post, and Nabby got one from her Aunt shaw and an other from her Brother. This was a little mortifying I own, not that others were happy, but that I was dissapointed, but I do not give over, some passenger has them I Say or else the vessel saild, and has left my Letters behind. Why I am Sure my Sister Cranch has written...
62Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 7 May 1786 (Adams Papers)
Yes my dear Sister I have thought it very long since I have receiv’d a Letter from you and thought it very Strange that you should not write me one line by the January Pacquit when mr cranch receiv’d one from mr Adams. You say you wrote but one Letter by it, but do not tell me who it was too none of your Friends here have receiv’d any, and mr King directed a number of other pioples to mr...
63Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 21 May 1786 (Adams Papers)
Your kind Letter of Feb’ry came safe to hand, and proved my assertion, that I was sure you had written to me tho it did not reach me by the post. As Letters are always Subject to inspection when put into the bag, it is not best to trust any thing improper for a News paper by that conveyance unless addrest to some merchant, which address prevents curiosity. In writing to you, I am not under...
64Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 21 May 1786 (Adams Papers)
Is it possible that my dear Niece should really be married and the little visiting Card upon which a peice of Ribbon was wound be the only way in which my sister has thought proper to convey the pleasseing intellegence to her Friends? It is an event which almost every one hop’d, and every one I know will approve. For my Self, I most heartily congratulate you all, not only upon your acquisition...
65Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 22 May 1786 (Adams Papers)
I have been almost frighted out of my senses this afternoon. Your Mother Hall and Polly Adams came to spend the day with me, but had like to have been kill’d before they return’d. As they were geting into the chaise to go home, the Horse took a fright and although he was fastind to the hook in the Tree, he broke the Bridle and a way he went. Mr Wibird had just help’d in miss Polly and had...
66Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 25 May 1786 (Adams Papers)
Captain Callihan arrived yesterday at Portsmouth and to day your letter came safe to hand. A thousand thanks my dear sister for all your intelligence. No you have not been too particular, every thing however trivial on that Side the water interests me. Here—nothing. I go into the midst of thousands who I know not, and behold all the Boasted Beauty of London with a cold indifference. I...
67Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 25 May 1786 (Adams Papers)
After I had closed my letter to you of yesterday I went into the city four mils distant I am from St Pauls, beyond which the New England coffe House is; where I usually Send to inquire for our Boston Captains. I found the vessel was not yet gone. I went to a shop where I buy almost every thing in the Linnen Draper way and purchased a peice of linnen for Tommy, and some calico, which is done up...
68Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 13 June 1786 (Adams Papers)
Any agitation of mind, either painfull or pleasureable always drives slumber from my Eyes. Such was my Situation last Night; when I gave my only daughter, and your Neice to the man of her choice , a Gentleman esteemed by all who know him, and equally beloved by his Friends and acquaintance. A Man of strict honour, unblemish’d reputation and Morals, Brave modest and delicate, and whose study...
69Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 2 July 1786 (Adams Papers)
I did not receive your last Letter by the way of new york till after the vessail had Sail’d with my Letters. I was much diverted to think the few Lines coll: smith wrote in your name should have produce’d you So long a Letter from Mr Cranch. The coll really counterfitted your hand writing very well. Betsy said as soon as she saw it, that it did not look just like aunts hand. If it was hers She...
70Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 4 July 1786 (Adams Papers)
Your two Letters of May 7th and 15th reachd me yesterday, and I was puzzeld a long time to find out what you could mean by the card, till your Neice, now really Mrs Smith, said that She recollected winding the ribbon upon a card of invitation which happend to lie by her, from Mrs Smith of Clapham, a Lady I have mentiond formerly to you, whose Husband is a Member of Parliament. You was however...