1From John Adams to Thomas Brand-Hollis, 5 April 1788 (Adams Papers)
If ever there was any philosophic solitude, your two friends have found it in this place, where we have been wind bound, a whole week, without a creature to speak to. Our whole business, pleasure and amusement has been reading Necker’s Religious opinions, Hayley’s Old Maids, and Cumberland’s fourth Observer. Our whole stock is now exhausted, and if the ship should not arrive with a fresh...
2Abigail Adams to Thomas Brand Hollis, 5 April 1788 (Adams Papers)
There is something so disagreeable to one’s feelings in taking a final leave of our friends, and thinking that it is the last time we shall ever meet, that I avoided placing myself in that situation as much as possible. On this account I neither bid my worthy friends Dr. Price or Mr. Hollis adieu; for those two gentlemen I have the greatest esteem and regard, and regret the necessity which...
3To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Vaughan, 5 April 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honor to inclose a letter written at the time of its date, but which I have since had transcribed on account of an alteration I have since made in my sentiments. The letter was delayed to allow me time to make experiments, which I have not been able to accomplish. I send the hygrometer I describe in it, somewhat doubtful however of its success. I have the pleasure to add another,...
4To James Madison from George Nicholas, 5 April 1788 (Madison Papers)
I consider the present moment as so important to America, that I shall take the liberty of communicating to you my sentiments, as to the conduct that her real freinds ought to pursue. The adoption of the new constitution (on which I conceive her salvation to depend) in this state, depends much on the conduct of the other states; from the list of members returned to the convention, I think a...
5[Diary entry: 5 April 1788] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 5th. Thermometer at 51 in the Morning—64 at Noon And 63 at Night. Clear and warm all day, but little wind and that at Easterly. Visited all the Plantations. In the Neck, the same work as yesterday was going forward. At Muddy hole the same also. At Dogue run the same. The two plows at this place finished breaking up the turnip ground in No. 1 about dinner time yesterday & went...
65th. (Adams Papers)
Rain’d again a great part of the day. Putnam pass’d the evening at my lodgings. We conversed upon a variety of Subjects. I am more pleased with him, than I was while we were, Classmates: he is not exempt from that puerility which I mentioned as constituting his character; and I have sometimes seen him exert a degree of little cunning, to obtain an end, in trifles where it was totally...