1Abigail Adams to William Smith Shaw, 26 December 1797 (Adams Papers)
I received by the last post your kind Letter and the Poem of Mrs Mortens which the President had received a few days before from the Author “For the beloved President of a Free and enlightned People, the following Poem is gratefully and Respectfully offerd, by the Author” I would fain flatter myself that the fair Authoriss did not take a poetic lisence in this sentance; I send you in return...
2Abigail Adams to William Smith Shaw, 20 March 1798 (Adams Papers)
I received your Letter of Jan’ry 23 d and was gratified to find your Hand writing improving. I know you are attentive to what is passing in the political World, indeed who can be an indifferent Spectator, in Times so critical, so allarming and so big with Concequences as the present? I send you a late publication under the signature of scipio, [ “ ]Reflections on Monroe’s view of the conduct...
3Abigail Adams to William Smith Shaw, 2 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have duly received all your Letters, and thank you for them. your last of May 20 came on the 30th. the answer to the address from the students, I presume they must have received. it was addrest to Your clasmate Welch, as one of the committe. it would have been jointly addrest; but mr Malcom had mislaid the Letter which accompanied it, and their Names could not be recollected in order— the...
4Abigail Adams to William Smith Shaw, 18 November 1798 (Adams Papers)
when this reaches you I presume you will have arivd to the end of your journey, and have taken possession of your office, where I trust you will be usefull—and I hope happy— I find the publick offices are removed, from Trentown. I judge your uncle will proceed immediatly to Philadelphia. I have not had a line from mr Brisler for more than a month. I hope if he and his Family are safe returnd,...
5Abigail Adams to William Smith Shaw, 9 December 1798 (Adams Papers)
Last Evening was marrid at the Seat of the President of the united states, by the Revd mr Weld mr Ebeneazer Harmon to miss Abigail Hunt. please to inform miss Rebecca Tirril of this auspicious Event. as I am a great friend to Matrimony, and always like to promote it, where there is a prospect of happiness & comfort, and as Nabby had lived with me—and was about to marry the Brother of mrs...
6Abigail Adams to William Smith Shaw, 14 December 1798 (Adams Papers)
I received this week as many packets by the Mail as a minister of state. they however containd nothing except the News papers which you have been very puntual in forwarding. Browns I can dispence with, you need not send it again unless any thing interesting, in it, which the rest do not contain. Peters I hope will have less of the Bilingsgate when Congress sit, and Fennos I hope to see in the...
7Abigail Adams to William Smith Shaw, 20 December 1798 (Adams Papers)
you are very good dear William in your attentions towards me, and I receive the papers regularly which will now become more interesting as Congress proceed in buisness. yours of the 10 & 12 of december I have received this week. the Aurora shows that tho Bache is dead, he yet speaketh, or rather that the party which supported him, are determined to have a press devoted to them. whether the...
8Abigail Adams to William Smith Shaw, 23 December 1798 (Adams Papers)
I was much obliged to you for sending me the answer to Barlows Letter. our Printers in Boston are very inattentive to many publications which would be usefull whilst they print very purile peices— Barlows Letter made its first appearence the last week in the Centinal. I design it shall be succeeded by the replie, tho I think it a very partial one and that it treats Barlow with much more...
9Abigail Adams to William Smith Shaw, 3 January 1799 (Adams Papers)
Rejoice o young Man in thy youth, and let thy Heart Cheer thee. this is the language of Soloman. Youth is therefore the season of rejoicing, nor can there be any thing more suitable, provided that joy is temperate, moderate and Rational. The old year is closed upon us, and a New one commenced; we have abundant cause for thankfullness and rejoicing; our Lives are still preserved, whilst...
10Abigail Adams to William Smith Shaw, 6 January 1799 (Adams Papers)
I received yesterday mor’g by Plimouth stage, your Letter of 28th december, together with the Bundle mrs Brisler sent, and two News papers—one by mistake was an old one, the other containd part of the debate upon mr Griswolds Resolution. the old clan keep up their opposition, Brainless as it is. I am glad to see them reduced to so small a Number, and as their Yea , must always be suspicious...
11Abigail Adams to William Smith Shaw, 14 January 1799 (Adams Papers)
your Aunt Cranch received a Letter from your Mother of Jan ry 1st in which she makes mention of having received a Letter from you: I wrote to her soon after she returnd Home, and sent the Letter to Boston. it was given to some private hand, and never has reachd her. I have since written to her by the post. She and your sister were well, and Abbes Arm much better for the application of Hughes...
12Abigail Adams to William Smith Shaw, 16 January 1799 (Adams Papers)
I received yesterday your Letter of Jan’ry 6th, with the News papers to the 7th Clapole excepted; which usually has the first debates, so that I got no debate later than I received on saturday of the 5th However inaccurate the Printers may report the debates in Philadelphia: is best known to those who deliver, and those who hear them. when curtaild, and retaild by our Printers they are...
13Abigail Adams to William Smith Shaw, 25 January 1799 (Adams Papers)
I thank you my dear Nephew for your last agreable Letter. you have too sensible and feeling a heart not to participate in the pleasure which the Return of your cousin gives to his Parents and Friends. your account of his reception from his Father was too tender and interesting to my Heart, not to flow to my Eyes; I hope you will derive both instruction and improvement from him. you have a mind...
14Abigail Adams to William Smith Shaw, 2 February 1799 (Adams Papers)
Is there no method my child you can persue to escape the constant colds to which you are subject it seems to me you have had a succession of them ever since you went to Philadelphia. have you had anything of the Rhumatism? we have had open thawy weather which has given me a touch of old times, a dumb Ague for the week past; I think the News papers might have given us a little more accurate...
15Abigail Adams to William Smith Shaw, 21 February 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have to acknowledge the receipt of three Letters from you since my last. your punctuality and attention deserve commendation; and claim a pardon for any inaccuracies of stile, or manner, which escape your pen. shall I tell you however what Thomas says? “this young man must aim at more accuracy of expression. he must not be slovenly I will take him to task.” you know his way, and I dare Say...
16Thomas Boylston Adams to William Smith Shaw, 1 March 1799 (Adams Papers)
I am now and then regaled with a few words from your store house, spread over as many lines , which brings to my mind very forcibly the words of Pope. “The weighty bullion” & ca: you know the rest. As yet however I have nothing directly from your hand. I have been playing truant ever since I arrived, and begin to think it high time to attend my office more punctually. We have had Balls and...
17Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody to William Smith Shaw, 20 March 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received two letters from you, & suppose you wonder that you have not heard from me much oftener.— we have eight Children in the house all under 14 years age— They are as good as any; but they keep me fully employed; they play hard, & tear their Cloaths so that it is almost impossible to keep them whole.— If it was not the belief , that I am promoting the cause of Literature, instilling...
18Thomas Boylston Adams to William Smith Shaw, 21 May 1799 (Adams Papers)
Your friendly & excellent letters of the 1 st: & 10 inst t: have reached me at this place, where I arrived the night before last, having passed a few days at Baltimore & Annapolis on my way. My tour has hitherto been highly pleasing to me, and should it conclude as it began, I shall not regret having made it; indeed a more favorable moment could not have occurred, since had I remained in...
19Thomas Boylston Adams to William Smith Shaw, 29 June 1799 (Adams Papers)
I am favored with your’s of the 23 d: inst t: and the enclosures—one of which is herewith returned. The Lieutenant Governor’s address is quite equal to my expectations, and there is little doubt with me, that he will rise a peg higher, merely, or chiefly because the people would not be united in any man of more capacity and talents. If any considerable interval take place prior to a new...
20Thomas Boylston Adams to William Smith Shaw, 8 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
Your’s of the 2 d: is in hand, with the enclosures, which receive thanks. I am sorry you dislike short letters, because I shall make a excuse therefrom for writing more seldom & only when I have matter enough to fill my paper on all sides. Against this I am sure you will protest & on second reflection, will prefer frequent brevity, to scarce prolixity. Among my brothers books you will find...
21Thomas Boylston Adams to William Smith Shaw, 14 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
If it be only to thank you for your favor of the 7 th: I will devote an minute previous to the meeting of Court; I thank you also for the Walpole paper, which entertains and delights me more than any of the literary productions of the Country. If there were an Editor here of the same taste as the Walpole Bard, I should sometimes indulge an itching which besets me for scribling— I know not...
22Thomas Boylston Adams to William Smith Shaw, 29 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
The 26 th: inst t: brought me yours of the 18 th: & the 28 th: that of the 21 st: with accompanyments— Accipe gratias et incepto permanete. You anticipated my request to be informed of how the rituals were this year performed at Alma mater. I am, among other pursuits, attempting to renew my acquaintance with school & College books, for which I own I had little relish while they occupied me as...
23Thomas Boylston Adams to William Smith Shaw, 23 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I received your agreeable birth day tribute the day following the date of my last; since then the deadly pestilence has burst forth again with ten fold violence & every part of the City is more or less infected. The inhabitants are flying in every direction & not a room is left unoccupied at Germantown. I go there but seldom. The Banks & other public Offices are soon expected. New York, we...
24Thomas Boylston Adams to William Smith Shaw, 30 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I enclose, as directed, under cover to you, the Summary statement of services rendered at an important & critical period of our Country’s affairs, by an intelligent, brave, & deserving Officer. I think it an hardship that such merit & such services are so soon obliterated from the recollection or so much out of the knowledge of Gentlemen now in Office, that a statement under the hand of the...
25Thomas Boylston Adams to William Smith Shaw, 8 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have your favor of the 31 st: ult o: with an enclosure for R. Peters Jun r: which shall be delivered as soon as an opportunity of sending it, presents— I have not yet found means to forward the last enclosure you made me—which is rather the effect of misfortune than neglect, though you doubtless will think I have no excuse for being nine weeks within 3 miles of the Bishops, without having...
26Thomas Boylston Adams to William Smith Shaw, 22 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
I received your obliging & copious communication of the 13 th: and render thanks for the trouble you have taken to explain a subject, which had excited my curiosity & interested my feelings, but which, without your aid, I should have been unable to comprehend to my satisfaction. I think it necessary only to observe in reply, that I fully concur in the opinion of the rectitude, propriety &...
27Thomas Boylston Adams to William Smith Shaw, 13 October 1799 (Adams Papers)
I must beg you to congratulate the President & yourself from me, on your safe arrival in our neighborhood. Your journey was, I apprehend, more favorable in point of weather than my mother’s is likely to be, for we have had very heavy rains & dull skies all the last week more or less— Even on Tuesday, the all important 8 th: , of October, big with the fate of Pennsylvania, we had in the morning...
28Thomas Boylston Adams to William Smith Shaw, 23 October 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have yet to reply to your favors of the 15 th: & 21 st: inst ts: the latter of which with the letters of M r: Pitcairn, came to hand last evening. I have been anxious for some days on account of reports, which have been circulated with great zeal & industry, of a serious misunderstanding in the Cabinet at Trenton, and though I give credit slowly to the idle rumors of the day, I cannot but...
29Abigail Adams to William Smith Shaw, 28 October 1799 (Adams Papers)
what can you expect me to write you from this village; where I hear & know no more what is passing in the world, than if I was wholy secluded from it. I have not seen a Newspaper since I came and but one gentleman from N york. I can tell you that the leaves wither and fall, beautifully varigated by the frost with all the coulours of the Rainbow, that the tide Ebbs and flows covering the meddow...
30Thomas Boylston Adams to William Smith Shaw, 3 July 1800 (Adams Papers)
I enclose you a receipt from Watson for your last p r of Pentaloons, and M r: Lynch’s receipt for the last quarter’s rent of the house; the last you will please to give to my Mother. Frederick, the Hostler, called on me some days ago, to give him a character, as a Coachman, saying that his own , was gone in his chest to Quincy, and praying me to write for it. I promised to do the latter, but...