1John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 31 March 1797 (Adams Papers)
I am very much concerned, least you as well as your Brother, should think hard of me, for neglecting so long to write to you, but the multiplied Cares and engagements of Life added to indifferent health must plead my Excuse M r: Murray is to take the place of your Brother, and M r. Dandridge is to be his private Secretary, your brother will go to Lisbon, and you I hope will return to...
2John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 21 April 1797 (Adams Papers)
For I suppose you must have an explanation to keep you current with the vieux stile , now-a-days.— I have received your pleasant account from Brussels of your travels thus far. Continue to write me as often as you can, and sur tout return as speedily as possible. I have read something in Adam Smith about the wonders performed by division of labour. I know very well the effects of its...
3John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 2 May 1797 (Adams Papers)
I am very much gratified to find by your favour of the 26 th: that your Journey from Brussels was so pleasant, and that you are so well satisfied with what you had seen.— I shall request Mess rs: Moliere to extend your credit with their correspondents at Paris. There is a Danish vessel going to Lisbon from Amsterdam in the course of three weeks or a month. I shall go to Amsterdam in a few days...
4John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 9 May 1797 (Adams Papers)
Mess rs: Moliere, will this day extend your credit with their correspondent at Paris, to the amount of 4000 livres more. This I presume will amply suffice for your occasions. I requested you by my last letter, to be here not later than the 25 th: of this month. There is to be a Ball on that day at the Hotel de Suéde. The Count desires me to tell you, that you will be very much wanted as a...
5John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 17 May 1797 (Adams Papers)
I have just got your agreeable favours of 8–9— & 11— May, and as this is the last day upon which I can write to reach you at Paris, and I have but little time for the post, I shall be short. M r: Arnoux’s letter has given me great pleasure, and I wish you if you have time, to give him my grateful thanks for it; for his kind remembrance of the family, as well as his attentions to you. Madame de...
6John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 2 June 1797 (Adams Papers)
Your Brother is appointed to Berlin, but you I presume will soon return to America; perhaps you may be upon your passage, and this Letter may not reach you, before You Sail I long to see you, but yet I am Very sensible it must be a cruel separation to your Brother— Who he can obtain for a Secretary I know not. The family is all here, and are as happy as the absence of all our Children, and the...
7John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 2 June 1797 (Adams Papers)
I arrived here last Evening and this morning received your cover, enclosing the Letter from the Secretary of the Treasury.— There are Letters here from America, as late as the 29 th: of April. M r: Murray had then sailed so that he may be looked for every day. I have not yet seen M r: Damen, and of course have made no arrangements. I shall make none immediately for my own departure. I feel a...
8Abigail Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 20 June 1797 (Adams Papers)
Your Friend Quincy is married, truly married and to a Nyork Lady, by the Name of Morten, without Beauty and without Money, but amply compensated by the accomplishments of her mind and the Virtues of her Heart, as I am informd, for I have not the pleasure of knowing her. Having told you this peice of News, I shall proceed and would acknowledge the date of your last Letter to me, but I...
9Abigail Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 16 July 1797 (Adams Papers)
Tis expectation that make a Blessing sweet, says the poet. how sincerely sweet would it be to me to fold my dear Thomas to my Maternal Bosom in his own Native Land. I hope and wish, wish & hope that the Day may not be far distant.— This Day, the 14 of July I received by way of N york your kind Letter of April 7 th , more than 3 months Since it was written, from your Brother no one of a later...
10John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 25 October 1797 (Adams Papers)
I have rec d your charming narration of your Tour to Paris, both to me and your mother, and am happy to find you were so civilly treated and so well pleased. I shall never forget the kindness of my Friend Arnoux to myself or to you. I congratulate you, on your new Acquisition of a Sister. I Suppose this match grew out of a Spark that was kindled at Nantes in 1779 when your Brother was with me...
11Abigail Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 7 November 1797 (Adams Papers)
Your Letters have become Such a model of elegant composition, that I cannot but think you must discover So many dificencies in my untoutord stile, that I feel a little anxious in Exposing it to your Eye. your desire however to obtain intelligence from your Native Land, and from the Friends, and Relatives you have Left there, will induce you to pass over with a less scrutinizing Eye the...
12Abigail Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 3 January 1798 (Adams Papers)
I Embrace the opportunity by the British packet of writing you a few lines, tho I have not any thing very material to communicate to you. I have already informd your Brother and sister of the safe arrival of her Parents and sisters at George Town after a passage of 60 days. Since which, I have received Letters both from mr and Mrs Johnson both of whom with the young Ladies were well. young mr...
13Abigail Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 18 March 1798 (Adams Papers)
When I have written to your Brother I feel as if I had exhausted all the subjects which it is proper for me to write upon, but as your Hand writing allways gives me pleasure tho I see it only upon the superscription of a Letter, or in a few Promissory lines in the cover, I judge you will allways be gratified with a few words from me tho they contain no more than a Bullitin of our Health and...
14Abigail Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 4 April 1798 (Adams Papers)
To know that one Cannot freely say that Black, is Black; even tho it be “darkness visible,” or that white is white, tho the new fallen snow is not purer, is fettering ones faculties, as well as restraining ones pen. Yet in such perilious Times as the present, freely to discuss motives which lead to measures, or to Characterize the Actors “who fret and Strut their hour upon the stage” would not...
15Abigail Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 1 May 1798 (Adams Papers)
I promised My dear Thomas to write to him by the May packet. on Fryday Evening at the drawing Room the British Minister informed me that he would take charge of any Letters I might have to Send. I wrote to your Brother by the April Packet, since which there has been a continuation, and increase of that American Spirit which I informd him was rising into activity. I have sent to your Brother,...
16Abigail Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 21 July 1798 (Adams Papers)
As there is some Probability that Thomas Welch will Embark before I shall return to Quincy, I write from hence; I shall esteem myself peculiarly fortunate to see you again in your Native Country. a longer residence abroad in your situation, would be wholy incompatable both with your interest and future establishment in Life, as you will have to commence again in your Profession— you may also...
17John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 2 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
The enclosed paper will give you an exact idea of that property belonging to me, [in the] hands of Doctor Welsh, and our brother Charles, which it is [my] wish that, you would take under your care, and management upon your arrival in America. When my library shall arrive from Lisbon, you will consult with your mother for a place of security in which to lodge it— If it should be joined to that...
18Louisa Catherine Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 6 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
You cannot concieve M r. Adams’s disappointment on opening your letter and finding it directed to me I was so agreeably surprized that I absolutely kissed it. would to heaven we could have you back again I did not think I should have felt the loss of your society so much but we really are not like the same family as for your brother I never saw him so much affected at anything in my life I...
19John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 12 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
We have received and been entertained with your letters from Dessau, Magdeburg and Brunswic.— We hope to hear from you, to day or to-morrow, at Hamburg, where upon your arrival, you must have found abundance of letters, either to, or for you. You ask for news; but you are now so much nearer the sources of all the important news, that it must rather come from you to us, than go from us to you....
20John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 30 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have received your’s of the 26 th: enclosing one for M r: Welsh— I now forward those Letters for America, with which I threatened you in my last.— Of all the news which you believed or expected to believe, the only parts likely to be confirmed, are the capture of the Leander, with Captain Berry, on board, and of the two french frigates by the Colossus.— The burning of the transports in the...
21John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 13 November 1798 (Adams Papers)
I write a line in answer to your’s of the 9 th: and to send you the enclosed for J. Hall, though the wind here is easterly since yesterday, and you may have improved it, to sail upon your voyage. There are no Russian troops marching towards Pomerania— There is a new Edict here against secret Societies, of which I shall immediately forward a translation, though probably not in time to reach you...
22Abigail Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 30 December 1798 (Adams Papers)
If you have once more set your foot upon American ground, and are in safety, God be praised I have sufferd great anxiety for you, knowing your intention of comeing this winter. you may well suppose my Heart Leaped for Joy when I found that Captain Jenkins was safely arrived. I for three days, was expecting to see you, but upon writing to mr smith for intelligence I could not get any concerning...
23John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 15 January 1799 (Adams Papers)
We received your short Letter of 19. November written just as the pilot from the mouth of the Elbe was about to leave you. Since that time untill this day, we have had almost incessantly Easterly winds blowing, and we hope that you enjoyed the benefit of them, and long before this, find yourself restored to the bosom of our Country and friends. Since your departure several circumstances have...
24Abigail Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 20 January 1799 (Adams Papers)
I Congratulate you my dear son, upon your safe arrival in your Native Country; and myself that I have the prospect of seeing you again, a prospect which for many Months I had no hopes of realizing, as your Father can inform you, and to the very low state of my Health, it is oweing that I cannot so soon as I wish enjoy the pleasure of Welcomeing you Home; and meeting you at Philadelphia, where...
25Abigail Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 23 January 1799 (Adams Papers)
I received with Sincere pleasure the confirmation of your Safe arrival in your Native Land, from under your own Hand yesterday by post. oweing to Bad Roads, the post from N york did not arrive untill twesday, tho due on saturday. I had written to you, as you will find by the first Mail after I heard of your arrival, and tho I should most affectionately rejoice to see you soon, I shall not urge...
26John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 17 April 1799 (Adams Papers)
Somewhat more than a month ago I received the very welcome intelligence that the vessel on board of which you were a passenger had arrived at New-York. Some days later, a letter from M r: Murray mentioned that he had seen your arrival announced in a Philadelphia newspaper of the 15 th: of January.— Soon after, I received from our ever dear and honoured mother a letter of 1. Feb y: fully...
27Abigail Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 2 June 1799 (Adams Papers)
I presume this will find you at Philadelphia, fix’d in your Lodgings; and in possession of your office, where I wish you much of the Good things of the world, tho purchased by toil & trouble, they may serve to enhance their value; above all worldly Goods. I wish you Health, for destitute of that great blessing, few others can be enjoyed. The few Hot days which we had in May, brought upon me...
28John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 8 June 1799 (Adams Papers)
The daily Duties of my office require so much Writing that my hand and head are fatigued & exhausted before I have half done: and this must be my Apology for not writing you till now. I hope you are now well settled in your office and pursuing your studies. Practice will come in time, but the most certainly from an incessant Attendance upon the Courts and taking minutes & making Reports of...
29Abigail Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 30 June 1799 (Adams Papers)
I received your Letter of June 21— I cannot but feel very anxious for your Health. the Hot season is fast approaching, and the city will soon become sickly. the feverish habit of which you complain, and which seems to be rivited to your constitution, will expose you to the disorders incident to the season; I have sufferd so much from the same complaint that I know full well how to sympathize...
30John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 1 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
My last letter to you upon private affairs was of April 29. since which I have received none from you, untill last evening, when your’s of 4. to 12. March, from Quincy, and of 11. May from Baltimore, both came to hand.— In the last, you mention having written me, at full length, the week before by the way of London; but this letter I have not received. Your account of the administration of...
31Abigail Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 15 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I know not how it is, but I always feel more spirits when I take my pen to write to you, than to any one else; I received a friendly Letter from dr Rush. the Good Gentleman endeavours to do away all the suspis he so innocently raised, and in doing it, your Father observed that it was ten to one. if he did not go to prateing to the Bishop or his daughters, and excite some Idea that he had been...
32Abigail Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 4 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I received yours of the 21 July upon my return from a Ride. your Father said he had a Letter for me worth a thousand pounds I found it had been read; I complaind, but was told it was put in unseald, on purpose that it might be read. I had not any objection to its being seen, yet you know one chuses in such cases to be judge for themselves; I delight very much in your Letters. you have a...
33John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 16 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I received your N. 6. dated 3. June, about three weeks ago, at this place, and should have replied to it sooner, but for a violent fever which seized me on the first of this month, and confined me for about ten days— It was only an intermittent, and paid me no more than five visits; but they were long and severe enough to leave me very weak.— I think myself now altogether recovered, and can...
34Abigail Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 17 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I received with much pleasure your Letters of August 1 st and 12th, for which accept my thanks. I read the papers as usual, and find the Ethiope washed white by the Necromancing powers of dallas & co—but I was not a little surprizd by the information which mr H G otis assured me, he received from a correspondent in Philadelphia, viz that our Friend Dr Rush and Mr Hartley of York Town were...
35Abigail Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 4 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
I received your two Letters together of August 26 th . I have every day since designd to write to you, but have not been very well. I do not know the cause yet for many years, the Month of sep’ br has depressed my Spirits more than any other. I believe it always brings with it, some dregs of the old Ague and fever— I most sincerely mourn for the distressess of N york and Philadelphia; but know...
36John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 17 October 1799 (Adams Papers)
I received last night your favour of the 15 th , the Sentiments and expressions of which are Such as cannot fail to render your Character Prosperity and Happiness more dear to me than ever. An Office must be procured, and the Price or Rent must not be an Obstacle. I had rather pay for you a high Rent than you should not have an Office in Market or Chesnut Street. Your Brothers Observations...
37John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 19 October 1799 (Adams Papers)
Since you are desirous of a Confidence, in the Breast of your Father, and he is not less anxious to possess one in yours, I will open myself to you as soon as time will permit, upon Several Subjects and without assuming to dictate or controul will give you my candid and frank Advice. Although you have had a regular Education in the Theory and Practice of the Law, under a Master as eminent as M...
38John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 22 October 1799 (Adams Papers)
My last letter to you, was from Dresden, and dated the 17 th: of last month, since which I have not had the pleasure to receive any thing from you. We spent a month at that place very agreably, & as long as the picture gallery remained open, I did not fail to visit it almost every day. We likewise went to Königstein, & saw also at Dresden the electoral jewels, the library, the old porcellain,...
39William Cranch to Thomas Boylston Adams, 30 January 1800 (Adams Papers)
I suppose this session of the supreme Court will decide the point whether M r. Bayard will resign his office of Clerk, and whether I shall be appointed to succeed him. It is an object which has occupied my thoughts and absorbed my wishes, ever since you first suggested to me the Idea. Whenever I have felt the heartake, the hope of obtaining this little unenvied place, has cast a beam of light...
40John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 28 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
I humble myself in dust and ashes to confess that I must at one and the same time acknowledge the receipt of seven letters from you—viz—of 26 and 30. October and 29. December 1799—of 31. Jany: original and duplicate of 1. and 25. Feby: of the current year— But as if you had meant to make my responsibility less burthensome to me the numbers are not regularly noted— For N. 12 is repeated; and...
41Abigail Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 12 June 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have not taken my pen to write you a line before since my return, tho I have daily intended it. You know I Must necessarily have many avocations upon first comeing home, beside the constant interruptions from company; I was happy to learn as I did a few days since by Your Letter of June the 1 st that You had returnd in safety to the city improved in health. God grant that it May be continued...
42John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 10 July 1800 (Adams Papers)
I received two days ago your N: 16. dated the 11 th: of May. which you gave to M r: Treat, with injunctions to take special care of it— Now, mark how specially this recommendation was observed— In order to secure your letter from all accident, which might happen to the bag, M r: Treat put it into his own trunk.— But being boarded by the officer of a french privateer, he was obliged to submit...
43Abigail Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 12 July 1800 (Adams Papers)
On the 23 d of June I wrote You a Letter, and one to your Father, addressing it to him in Philadelphia, and in his absence to be opened by You. I was much mortified to find it returnd again to Quincy, not So much for what it containd, as the appearence of my having neglected to write to you; Your last Letter found me upon a bed of sickness wholy unable to write. the Hot weather brought on a...
44John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 14 July 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have not received a letter from you since I left you. As I hear nothing of the epidemic in Philadelphia, I begin to hope that such a calamity will this year be spared to that city. I should be gratified to hear of your health and success. I could fill a sheet with curious anecdotes of politicks & electioneering, but as this is a subject on which I ought not to permit myself to write speak or...
45John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 16 July 1800 (Adams Papers)
I cannot send you a duplicate without adding a line to it; for there is a pleasure in knowing that our distant friends are well, though but one day later than we have already heard from them We have been spending several days at Charlottenburg with D r Brown’s family, and Louisa’s health which never fails to droop at Berlin in the summer, has derived benefit from it— To morrow morning we set...
46John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 20 July 1800 (Adams Papers)
As I have bespoke your company, upon our journey into Silesia, I begin this letter at our first resting station from Berlin— Hitherto we have indeed seen little more than the usual Brandenburg sands, & perhaps you will find our tour as tiresome as we have found it ourselves— I cannot promise you an amusing journey, though I hope it will prove so to us; & if at the sight of this my first letter...
47John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 26 July 1800 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday morning early we took our departure from Freystadt, & came to this place; a distance of eight german miles; five of which are in single stage from Sprotau here— The face of the country has visibly & greatly improved as we came along; & although we still had to wade through miles of sands more, or less deep, we were frequently relieved by patches of good roads, & by beautiful fields...
48John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 3 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
At the close of my last letter I left you, in a cool refreshing shade, in the view of the Kockelfall, from which we proceeded the same evening to this inn— It was, as you may suppose a fatiguing day; though not so much so, as one or two we have gone through since, & several, which still await us— This village in one respect resembles an American country, more than any other spot I have seen in...
49John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 4 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your favour of July 26. I always rejoice to hear of your Arguing Causes. This Arguing is the Way to business. Argue; Argue; Argue; forever when you can, and never be concerned about the issue, any further than you ought to interest yourself for truth and Justice. If you Speak in public, tho you loose your cause, it will Serve your reputation, if you Speak well, as much as if...
50John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 7 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
The reason, which induces travellers, who purpose a visit to the Riesenkoppe, to pass the night before at the Hempel’s baude is, that they may ascend the mountain in the morning early enough to see the sun rise, from its summit— Such was our own intention; but when we rose at two o’clock in the morning, Louisa, found herself suffering so severe a headache, that she was obliged to give up the...