1Abigail Adams Smith to Abigail Adams, 17 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
I received yesterday your letter and package by Capt. White, and have received the account of the last resolution of the house to disband the army. I think the jacobins have now reason to exult, at out-manœuvering the federalists, as it appears they do upon every occasion. The federalists deserve every thing that will happen to them for their apathy. The next thing I expect to hear is that...
2Hannah Adams to Abigail Adams, 12 May 1798 (Adams Papers)
My knowledge of your condescension and goodness emboldens me to address you at present. I have at length prepared my History of New-England for the press, in which I have mentioned your illustrious partner as one of the first and most active promoters of the declaration of Independence. I have given a sketch of his speech on that important occasion from Ramsay. the whole is not inserted in any...
3John Adams to Abigail Adams, 15 November 1800 (Adams Papers)
I rec d last night your Letter of the 11 th. Your Girls and M r shipley arrived in good health and Spirits. I shall Send the Charriot this morning to meet you. It would be a great pleasure to me to go in it, but I am so engaged in indispensable business that I know not how to leave it and another thing of some importance is your Son may take a seat with you & Suzan in the Charriot and that...
4John Adams to Abigail Adams, 22 March 1797 (Adams Papers)
Last night for the first time I slept in our new House.— But what a Scene! The Furniture belonging to the Publick is in the most deplorable Condition— There is not a Chair fit to sit in. The Beds and Bedding are in a woeful Pickle. This House has been a scene of the most scandalous Drunkenness and Disorder among the servants, that ever I heard of. I would not have one of them for any...
5John Adams to Abigail Adams, 27 October 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have rec d yours of 24 th and thank you for your relation of our little domestic affairs at Quincy. Brisler did not arrive last night as you callculated. His Children may detain him longer than you expected.— some of the public Offices are about removing to Phyladelphia this Week. I can Send James with my Horses and Charriot to meet you at Hoebucken Ferry or Elizabeth Town or any other Place...
6John Adams to Abigail Adams, 30 October 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have yours of 26 by Brisler and that of the 28 th. this Morning. Thomas is in Phyladelphia and Brisler with his Family are going off this morning in the Stage. He will write me this Evening or tomorrow.— I expect to hear from you when and where you intend to Set out, and where you intend to be.— The offices of Treasury & State are gone to Phyladelphia. War, Navy & Law remain here, for...
7John Adams to Abigail Adams, 7 March 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have been so overwhelmed with Business at the Close of the session of Congress and Since, that I have not been able to write you for several Days. M r Grove desired me to tell you that M r William Smith your Nephew is married to a very amiable young Lady the Daughter of a rich Father. What he means by a rich Father I dont know.— I congratulate you & Louisa on this Event. I cannot Say whether...
8John Adams to Abigail Adams, 27 March 1797 (Adams Papers)
You will See by the Proclamation in the Public Papers that I have been obliged to convene Congress on the 15 th of May, and as it is probable they will Sitt till the Middle of July, this measure must make an entire change in all our Arrangements There are so many Things to do in furnishing the House in which I want your Advice, and on so many other Accounts it is improper We should live in a...
9John Adams to Abigail Adams, 11 March 1799 (Adams Papers)
I cannot Say when I shall be able to sett out. But I shall loose no time here. When the Public Business is in such a state that I can leave it, I shall go, be the Roads as they may.— I expect bad travelling all the Way. Truxton has indeed taken the Insurgent. But We have a silly Insurgence in Northampton County in this state, which will detain me, I suppose, some days This state is not a moral...
10John Adams to Abigail Adams, 3 April 1797 (Adams Papers)
Monday Morning, the most agreable in the Week because it brings me Letters from you, has not failed me to day. I have yours of 23 and 25 March. The Correspondence with Plymouth amused me much— The Answer is Superiour to the Letter both in Delicacy, and keenness.— You might have told her, if Chance decides in Elections, it is no better than Descent. But she knows not what she wants. The Letter...
11John Adams to Abigail Adams, 15 November 1798 (Adams Papers)
You never rec d a Letter from Berlin but with Pleasure: and this I dare say will not be the first.— From Austins in a lowry Morning We proceeded to Hartford and dined at Bulls. A polite Invitation from the County Court to dine with them was declined, and We came on immediately to Squire Rileys. The Coachman thought it would be too hard upon the Horses to go to Wallingford I have now read all...
12John Adams to Abigail Adams, 18 November 1798 (Adams Papers)
From Lovejoys at stratford We fixed off M r shaw with a part of the Baggage by the stage for East Chester. Mrs Smith and the fair Caroline came with me to Norwalk to dinner at Gregories, where We were very comfortable. We rode in gentle snow & rain all day and Arrived at Webbs at Night, where We put up till Monday. My Horses want a day of rest. From Quincy to stanford, within 22 miles of East...
13John Adams to Abigail Adams, 4 February 1799 (Adams Papers)
Yours of 25 Ult. is rec d. — Thomas is to Sett off from N. York to day for Quincy and I wish him a pleasant Journey, which the fine Weather and convenient Snow promises. An happy Sight of his Friends, will come of course, without Accidents. He found his Father, forty Years Older than when he left him, and if he finds his Mother advanced only ten, it may be an agreable disappointment to him.—...
14John Adams to Abigail Adams, 1 January 1799 (Adams Papers)
I rec d to day your fav r of 24 and it made the day more tolerable. Your health and Spirits always promote mine. We have had more Company to Day than ever upon any Occasion. Thirty or forty Gallons of Punch, Wine in Proportion and Cake in Abundance. The News by The America Capt n. Jenkins arrived at Newbury Port made every body gay but me. Not a Word of Thomas Boylston Adams. I shall be uneasy...
15John Adams to Abigail Adams, 11 March 1797 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday only I rec d yours of March 1.— am surprized you should have rec d none from me from 11. Feb. I have written never less than once a Week, seldom less than twice and 9 Weeks out of 10, three times, ever Since I left you. The Roads or some irregularity of the Post must have occasioned your disappointment. I hope you will obtain Mr Mears, but I must leave every Thing to you— The Load of...
16John Adams to Abigail Adams, 13 June 1800 (Adams Papers)
I rec d your favour of the 2 d by M r Dexter and this morning from M r Gerry an account of your health on the 4 th , which have relieved me from Some anxiety as I had rec d no Letter from you Since you were in N. York. I have seen many Cities and fine Places since you left me and particularly Mount Vernon. M rs Washington and her whole Family very kindly enquired after your health and all your...
17John Adams to Abigail Adams, 9 February 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have just rec d yours of Feb. 1. and thank you for the Book.— We had one before, from the Bookseller here who has them for sale. D r Tufts may draw. You had better engage the Oats. French may have Belchers place. Congress will not Sitt longer than March: and I calculate upon Weeks too—But fear I shall be detained some time after Congress departs. Last night I must needs go to the Play and...
18John Adams to Abigail Adams, 16 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
Saturday night 9 O Clock and not before I rec d yours of 13 th. and the Letter to Thomas with it, brought here no doubt by mistake. I regret very much that you have not a Gentleman with you. The Skittish young Colt with you, is always timorous, but no harm will befall you or her I trust. The Weather and roads here, on Saturday Sunday and to day are the finest We have seen this year. The...
19John Adams to Abigail Adams, 5 January 1799 (Adams Papers)
Three Vessells have arrived from Hambourg Since Thomas was there. The inclosed will shew you that he chose the Alexander Hamilton of New York. By this means he will escape the Dangers of our Massachusetts Bay; and I hope soon to hear of his Arrival. The General Officers nominated Smith for the command of a Regiment— I nominated him to the senate who, after a warm opposition and a day or two’s...
20John Adams to Abigail Adams, 10 January 1799 (Adams Papers)
We have the Pleasure of your Letters to the 3 d . I think it is not worth while to bid for M rs Veseys four Acres. The Price will be twice or thrice the Worth and I have no desire to enlarge my Borders by purchasing Such scraps. Indeed I have land enough and too much, unless I could attend to its cultivation.— In that Situation Land is an Object of Envy. And I am willing that some Tradesman...
21John Adams to Abigail Adams, 14 October 1799 (Adams Papers)
I Sent you a Letter this morning before I rec d yours of the 13. from Brookfield. I rejoice that you had arrived so far and born your Journey so well: but the Weather has been so wet that I doubt whether you have been able to reach East Chester to day. I am more convinced that the Air is a great Repository of Diseases and that it is impossible to guard against them. Be always ready. Yet I now...
22John Adams to Abigail Adams, 4 December 1798 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of the 25 Nov. has revived my heart. I rejoice at your real Recovery and hope it will be confirmed so that you may with the Advice of your Physicians come on this Winter to me. But I cannot bear the thought of your Attempting it, without their consent. I am of opinion with our Neighbours about the Barn. Barlow to Baldwin I have seen and despise the Letter as much as I have for some...
23John Adams to Abigail Adams, 19 April 1797 (Adams Papers)
as soon as your Letter informed Us that M rs Brisler could not come without her husband I sent him off, in two hours, the day before Yesterday, i.e Monday. There has been Such a snow storm ever since that he must have had a bad Journey to N. York— Whether he will wait there for a Wind for Rhode Island or take the stage I know not but hope he will get home before you come away. This days Post...
24John Adams to Abigail Adams, 22 April 1797 (Adams Papers)
I had no Letter from you Yesterday. As You intended to commence your Journey on the 24 th. it is not probable this Letter will meet you, till it returns to this Place. But as it is possible you might not be able to set out so soon, you may receive it at Quincy. Brisler is at Quincy before this, I hope. Charles is just gone, for N. York— I have communicated to him my Plan of sending my Coachman...
25John Adams to Abigail Adams, 18 October 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have written you but once Since I bid you farewell. I was Seized in Connecticutt with one of those direful Colds, which have Sometimes brought my frame into danger and I was afraid to let you know how ill I was. I am now so much better as to be able to do Business. We have no News of you Since the ninth indeed Since the Note in which you told Us of James’s fever. The Weather has given Us...
26John Adams to Abigail Adams, 17 March 1797 (Adams Papers)
I have yours of the 6 th. by the Post of this day. I have proposed to Brisler to give him 300 dollars and pay the Expences of his Wife and Children to this Place and back again to Quincy, when they return— And He and his Wife and Children are to live in the Family. This is pretty well— I must and will have him. I am peremptorily for excluding all blacks and Molattoes. I hope to get into the...
27John Adams to Abigail Adams, 24 April 1797 (Adams Papers)
This day you promis’d me to begin your Journey: but if the Weather is as disagreable with you as it is here, I could not exact the fullfillment of the Engagement. I fear you will have bad roads and unpleasant Weather. You talk of your Perplexities and say you must get out of them yourself. Do you think mine less severe, public or private? My dear and venerable Mother— Alass— I feel for her.—...
28John Adams to Abigail Adams, 16 January 1799 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday, Tuesday when the Levee Room began to be thin Brisler came running in, with the delightful sounds “Sir, Mr Adams is up Stairs.” I was not long in mounting the escalier and had the high Pleasure of embracing my dear son Thomas after an Absence of four years & an half.— We had a very happy Evening and he has had a good nights rest after the fatigues of his Voyage & Journey. He seems in...
29John Adams to Abigail Adams, 17 December 1798 (Adams Papers)
With a great deal of snow upon the Ground it is now plentifully snowing. There must be an unusual Quantity upon the Earth. I suppose you have it very deep. our Men and Teams must have had a terrible Jobb to get the Lumber home: but I hope it is all compleated e’er this. To Day at two D r Ewing & M r snowden are to dine with me and tomorrow at four about 30 senators and Reps.— I have not had as...
30John Adams to Abigail Adams, 22 February 1799 (Adams Papers)
Your last Letter, which I have rec d was dated the 10 th. — I have one from M r Thomas at Brookfield of the 8 th. — I hope your ill turn was soon over and that your health is reestablished. What the ultimate determination of our son will be I cannot conjecture.— I would not overpersuade him. Phyladelphia is on many Accounts, a good place. My Inclination as well as yours is for Quincy: his for...
31John Adams to Abigail Adams, 21 October 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have no line from you, Since the 13 th at Brookfield. There has been So much rainy Weather as to have made travelling impracticable for you, some part of the time, and the roads disagreable at all times.— If your health fails not, Patience will bear the rest. We went to the Presbyterian Church Yesterday and heard M r Grant a young calvinistical Presbyterian of a good style and fair hopes....
32John Adams to Abigail Adams, 25 February 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have just rec d yours of 14 th. — it has laid in the Post office I suppose Since saturday. The subjects of M r J. Q. A.s Agents are horrible to me. I will therefore dismiss them. Thomas’s Predilection for Phyladelphia, I suppose will determine him.— Alass! Nelly is married poor Boy! and I suppose some of the Six sisters will catch the Child in the Trap without a Groat and without...
33John Adams to Abigail Adams, 25 October 1799 (Adams Papers)
I am favoured this morning with yours of the 22 d.— This is Accession day you know. I shall always consider it as a red Letter day: a fortunate day. I am happy to know that you are comfortably Situated. I pray you to live in all Things at your own Expence and be no Burthen to M rs Smith or the Lt. Col. I am pretty well recovered of my Cold, but it has reduced my flesh. James has found a...
34John Adams to Abigail Adams, 28 January 1799 (Adams Papers)
In my solitude in Markett street, I find nothing so sociable as your Letters— those of 18 & 20 th. are this moment recd d.— Your health & Spirits are a great Improvement of mine. I have avoided the Epithets perfidious and unprincipled as much as I could, but neither they nor any that could be borrowed from the Hebrew & the Greek would be too strong, for the House of Mass to Use.— My Religion...
35John Adams to Abigail Adams, 12 November 1798 (Adams Papers)
We Stopped at the Governors to take Leave and he told Us the News of last night, which has regaled Us on the Road. We watered at Watertown and reached this Inn at half after one. We hope to reach Williams’s at Marlborough, and Sleep there this night. I strive to divert the melancholly thoughts of our Seperation, and pray you to do the Same. M rs Smith I hope will keep Up her Spirits and the...
36John Adams to Abigail Adams, 4 May 1797 (Adams Papers)
Your Letters of the 21. 22. 23. and 26 of April are all before me— They have inspired me with all the Melancholly in which they were written. Our Mother and our Niece are gone to rest. The first a fruit fully ripe the last but a blossom or a bud.— I have Suffered for you as much as you have Suffered— But I could give you no Aid or Amusement or Comfort.— I pray God that these dispensations may...
37John Adams to Abigail Adams, 25 December 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have rec d your Letters of 10. 15. and 16. Your solicitude for my Health may subside. I am pretty well— I had a cold, not a bad one— and something of the Inflammation in my face of last spring—but it is gone. Rush gave me such a Dose of Salts that I thought it not fit to go out to Congress next day. But the day after I was well enough.— I am Old—Old very Old and never Shall be very...
38John Adams to Abigail Adams, 1 February 1799 (Adams Papers)
On Tuesday M r T. B. Adams left Us, at Eleven in the stage for New York & Boston and consequently Quincy.— I should have been glad to have held him till I could carry him with me: but I thought it my Duty to comply with his desire, both for his sake and yours.— He Seems determined to settle in Phyladelphia.— He would have a happier Life, and be a more important Man in Quincy: But I must do &...
39John Adams to Abigail Adams, 16 November 1798 (Adams Papers)
From Rileys in Berlin, We went to Newhaven 26 miles to dinner at your Friends M rs Smiths who were very respectfully inquisitive after your health, and very sorry to hear an Account of it from me, not so flattering. A Visit from D r Dwight detained Us agreably for a short time but We found enough to cross the Ferry over the Housatonnac by sunsett and soon reached Lovejoys in this Town. We had...
40John Adams to Abigail Adams, 22 November 1798 (Adams Papers)
We Spent Sunday at Stanford at Webbs went to Meeting forenoon and afternon, and on Monday went to Dinner at East Chester. Tuesday in a Violent Snow storm went into New York, dined & Slept at Charles’s. Wednesday crossed the Ferry and went to Elizabeth Town. This day We came five and thirty miles to this Place. From New York our poor Horses have waded and dragged the Carriage through Snow banks...
41John Adams to Abigail Adams, 7 April 1797 (Adams Papers)
I rec d. to day your favour of March 29 th. I write you every Post day and send my Letter to the office. If they do not come regularly to you it must be owing to the office. It would hurt me to refuse the request of my Nephew Elisha Adams: but you gave him and his Mother all the Answer in your Power. If D r Tufts has any Money of mine in his hands, I should be glad if he would Supply my Nephew...
42John Adams to Abigail Adams, 11 April 1797 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of the 31. of March made me unhappy because it convinced me that you were so. I Attribute the Cause of it all however, to the dangerous illness of Cousin Polly Smith which I am very sorry to her. The Deaths and dangerous sicknesses of your near Relations and intimate friends always affect your tender and benevolent heart with very deep and affectionate Impressions. I hope she may...
43John Adams to Abigail Adams, 31 December 1798 (Adams Papers)
I hope you have health enough to bear to share with me some of my Griefs. I have determined to do a Thing this day, which puts my Phylosophy to a Tryal. The Lt Gen. and Major Generals have recommened Col Smith to the Command of a Regiment. This is a Degradation of him to which I would not consent, without his Consent. I have written to him hoping that he would forbid the nomination. But his...
44John Adams to Abigail Adams, 5 March 1797 (Adams Papers)
your dearest Friend never had a more trying day than Yesterday. A Solenm Scene it was indeed and it was made more affecting to me, by the Presence of the General, whose Countenance was as serene and unclouded as the day. He Seem’d to me to enjoy a Tryumph over me. Methought I heard him think Ay! I am fairly out and you fairly in! see which of Us will be happiest. When the Ceremony was over he...
45John Adams to Abigail Adams, 12 October 1799 (Adams Papers)
We arrived on the 10 th. I, much oppressed by one of my great Colds, which is now going Off.— I could obtain only one little Room and one little bedroom. but We can make a shift. I came here more loaded with Sorrow than with Rheum.— Sally opened her Mind to me for the first time. I pitied her, I grieved, I mourned but could do no more. a Madman possessed of the Devil can alone express or...
46John Adams to Abigail Adams, 14 April 1797 (Adams Papers)
I have this day rec d , in your favours of the 5. 6. and 7 th. of the month the first Acknowledgment of the Receipt of my Invitations to you to come to Philadelphia and share in the Burthens of your friend. I hope you may have commenced your Journey before this day: but knowing how many dispositions you have to make, and how difficult it will be to make them I cannot promise myself the...
47John Adams to Abigail Adams, 9 March 1797 (Adams Papers)
I have no Letter this Week and begin to fear that your Respect to our late P. has laid a foundation for a Sick Spring and Summer. Sometimes too I am jealous of unfair Play in the Post office to prevent me from hearing from you at the most critical Period of my Life. The public Papers must give you an Account of Proceedings, which I am wholly unable to describe. What Judgment is form’d of my...
48John Adams to Abigail Adams, 13 March 1797 (Adams Papers)
I am So constantly engaged in Business most of which is new to me, that it Seems as if it was impossible to find time to write even to you— Yet I believe I write every Post. It proves to be a tedious Business to clear the Presidents house for me. I am now told it will not be ready this Week. You will See by the Gazette how the new Pensilvania House is disposed of. The Weather is bad— I have a...
49John Adams to Abigail Adams, 25 October 1797 (Adams Papers)
I send you the Letters— I could not keep my hands off of Nabby’s. I beg her Pardon. They write me flattering Accounts from Phil a. M r Anthony writes most confidently. No danger. No fever—alls well.— When Brisler goes he should throw Lime into the Cellar Vault &c. I think We ought to have been together to day. But tomorrow will do. I am glad Malcom came out. We must prepare to go to Phil a....
50John Adams to Abigail Adams, 13 January 1799 (Adams Papers)
I thank God, it is now in my power to give you the pleasure you desired of receiving from me a chearful Letter. This Moment they brought me from the Post Office a Letter from our dear Thomas dated the 12 informing me of his Arrival at New York. He will come on to Phyladelphia and only laments that he cannot have the pleasure of embracing both his Parents at once. His Passage has not been...