151Abigail Adams to Cotton Tufts, 17 October 1797 (Adams Papers)
I was in hopes to have seen you, and had some more conversation with you upon the subject of finishing the Room in the out House. I experienced so many inconveniencies from a mixture of Families Whilst I was at Home, that I should not wish to try it again, for if mr & mrs Porter had not been of a very accommodating disposition we should have met with more trouble than I did. I told mr Porter...
152Abigail Adams to William Smith, 23 October 1797 (Adams Papers)
As you was absent when I left home I was unable to pay you for some articles which you had purchased for me, as well as some which mrs smith had procured for me. if you will be so good as to forward me the amount, I will transmit it to you— When I pay’d mr Fothingham for the Carriage, there were the quarter Lights and some other matters which made the carriage amount to more than our first...
153John 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....
154John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 25 October 1797 (Adams Papers)
The Newspapers had informed Us of your Marriage, but the first Evidence of it from yourself, was in your Letter to your Mother of the 29. July.— I congratulate you and your Lady on this Event, which I hope will be for your mutual Happiness and the Comfort of all the Friends of both Parties, for a long Course of years, dedicated to the Public— And may the Blessing of God Almighty be bestowed on...
155John 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...
156Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 31 October 1797 (Adams Papers)
I have received but one Letter from you Since I left Quincy now near a Month; I have been here three weeks, except 3 days which I past at my sons in N york— next Monday I leave here for Philadelphia where it is thought we may now go with safety— I was in hopes to have taken Mrs smith with me, but her situation is difficult not having received any advise what to do, and She is loth to go for...
157Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 2 November 1797 (Adams Papers)
I last monday receiv’d your Letter of the 22 d of october it was a long time coming. I wrote to you as soon as I thought you had arriv’d at your Daughters you have receiv’d a Letter from me & sister Peabody too I hope. I shall write, always about mrs Smiths little Boys when I can get any news from them. Will m Shaw did not go home this vacation but stay’d at cambridge to study I have not heard...
158Abigail Adams to John Quincy Adams, 3 November 1797 (Adams Papers)
Since my residence at this place, now a Month, occasiond by the prevalence of the yellow fever in Philadelphia, I have had the pleasure to receive two Letters from you; one from the Hague june 26 th , the other from London july 29 th . the joint Letter you mention as having written, is not yet come to Hand. The Newspapers before I left Quincy, which was on the 2d of the last Month, had informd...
159John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 3 November 1797 (Adams Papers)
It was only Yesterday that I received your No. 44 of 22. July though I had rec d N o. 45 a few days before. When I nominated you to Berlin, your Mother had not rec d the Letter in which you mentioned your aversion to holding an office under my nomination. If I had known you had formed Such a resolution I should not have made any Alteration in your destination till I had written you on the...
160Cotton Tufts to John Adams, 3 November 1797 (Adams Papers)
I received Yours of Octob r. 14 h. and have attended to the several Matters mentiond therein. The Wall at the Foot of Pens Hill is nearly compleated, one or two Days Work will finish it as far as you directed the Workmen to proceed— there will then be Stones sufficient to rebuild the Wall between you & Hardwick and a large Number besides for any other Purpose it therefore appears to me, that...
161Abigail Adams Smith to John Quincy Adams, 4 November 1797 (Adams Papers)
I received a few days since with much pleasure your letter jointly with my new Sisters for which be pleased to accept my thanks. the account of your Marriage reached me some time before your letter, and I should have written congratulating you upon an Event which a knowledge of the Ladys merits induces me to hope may be fraught with happiness had I not been a little piqued that you had never...
162Abigail 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...
163Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 15 November 1797 (Adams Papers)
I yesterday about 11 oclock went into the Presidents Room to see if John had returnd from the post office. my good Gentleman was soberly Standing at the fire with your Letter open and very gravely reading it. I scolded and very soon carried it of. I thank you for all your communications. the P. says one of sister Cranchs Letters is worth half a dozen others. she allways tells us so much about...
164Abigail Adams to William Cranch, 15 November 1797 (Adams Papers)
After an absence of near four Months I returned, to this City the last week. I am disposed to renew my correspondence with you, if you can find leisure to attend it. The fraternal regard and affection which for many years subsisted between you and my sons is not lessned by time, or diminished by absence, but I trust has grown ripened, and matured by age, and like the Affection of your parents...
165Abigail Adams to William Smith, 16 November 1797 (Adams Papers)
I wrote you from East Chester and inclosed you 90 dollors to pay a Note in mr Frothinghams hands. I have not received a line in acknowledgment of the letter, which makes me a little anxious for its fate. you was so good as to Say you would send me Some salt fish. I should like a couple of kental to treat our good Massachusetts Friends. I will thank you to send it by one of the first vessels,...
166Abigail Adams to John Fenno, 18 November 1797 (Adams Papers)
On 16 November 1797 the Philadelphia Aurora General Advertiser printed the following squib: “His serene highness of Braintree made an anti-climax on his journey from his dukedom. Boston made the cap of the climax, Philadelphia its tail. On another occasion it would be safer and wiser to make no further attempts at forcing respect; for it sits aukwardly upon men, that from respect it...
167John Adams to Cotton Tufts, 18 November 1797 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favour of the 3 d and am much obliged to you for it and equally pleased with its Contents. I agree with you in opinion that it will be well to rebuild the Wall against Hardwick: to renew the Leases as soon as possible with French and Burrill, if they choose to do so, and to plough and cart manure as you propose. I am very glad the Meadow is ploughed. This is a great Point...
168Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 19 November 1797 (Adams Papers)
That you have reciev’d but one Letter from me my dear Sister is not because I have not written I cannot think where they are detain’d— they were address’d to the President & to the care of charles Adams Counsellor at Law—as the President directed. I have sent three. I have not written So often as I would have done if I had not been much taken up with Company & Family cares.— I have been oblg’d...
169Abigail Adams to William Smith, 21 November 1797 (Adams Papers)
I received your obliging favour of Nov br 8 th the day after I last wrote you. I inclose the amount of your account with many thanks for your kindness— The Betsy is arrived with the fish, and if my cook can be taught to dress it, some of our Nothern Friends shall Toast your Health. The state of N Jersey as you observe, most certainly manifested a very marked respect and approbation of the...
170William Cranch to Abigail Adams, 21 November 1797 (Adams Papers)
I am not only highly gratified, but extremely grateful for your kind communication of 15 th. inst t , with it’s important inclosures.— The fraternal and affectionate friendship, which has so long existed between your sons and myself, has indeed been among the greatest Consolations of my life—and the consciousness that it still continues, brightens many of my passing days.— Having been so long...
171Abigail Adams to John Quincy Adams, 23 November 1797 (Adams Papers)
I am under obligations to you my dear son, for keeping up so regularly, and so constantly your correspondence with me; notwithstanding your various publick employments and private engagements, and I consider myself as very fortunate in receiving your Letters, tho frequently of an old date, owing to the circuitous route they have to make. By mr Fisher of this city I received a few Days Since...
172Abigail Adams to Louisa Catherine Adams, 24 November 1797 (Adams Papers)
Thus has my son given me a legal right to address you. I feel also, that I have an affectionate right devolved to me from him, to stile you thus. it would have given me great pleasure to have embraced you as Such in America, but as it has been otherways ordered, I must submit to that destiny which has through the greater part of my Life seperated me from my dearest connections. I feel a tender...
173Cotton Tufts to Abigail Adams, 24 November 1797 (Adams Papers)
I received Your Favour of Octob r. 17. last, and have agreably to your Request consulted Deac n Pierce, respecting an Addition to your Dwelling House, He is of opinion that if an Addition be made in Front, (which He supposes to be practicable) it will be necessary to take the east Chimney down; the Floors below & in the Chambers must be taken up as well as some other Parts of the Rooms— upon...
174Cotton Tufts to John Adams, 27 November 1797 (Adams Papers)
Since my last to you, Porter has finishd ploughing the Meadow on the back of your House, the lucky Moment was embraced for the purpose, no Time before or since would have answer’d. the Land by Bass is also broke up— The Manure in the Dung yard has been ploughd several Times and a considerable part of it carried upon the Clover Field on the Hill and on the Land designd for Barley, the latter...
175Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 28 November 1797 (Adams Papers)
I received your kind Letter of Nov’ br. 19 th by this days post. I had previously received two others both of which I had replied to, but I do not know how to pass a week without hearing from you. at the same time I received your Letter, I also had one from mrs smith informing me that She had received Letters from the col of 2 d of Nov’ br and that he had written her word that he Should be...
176Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 29 November 1797 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your Letter of the 15th of Nov br. before this I hope you have receiv’d another Letter from me but I shall be very cautious what I Say if tis liable to be inspected by the President without your leave he thought he must Say Something I suppose make his peace with me for taking Such libertys. I do not remember what I writ but I believe no treason. I am glad mrs Smith has heard...
177Abigail Adams to John Quincy Adams, 2 December 1797 (Adams Papers)
I have the pleasure of informing you and Mrs Adams of the safe arrival of mr Johnson and Family in George Town on the 25 of November, after a passage of 60 Days. I heard from mr Cranch that the Family were all well. I had written to him previous to their arrival to give me immediate notice of it, and I yesterday had the Satisfaction of writing to mrs Johnson to congratulate her upon her...
178Abigail Adams to William Cranch, 3 December 1797 (Adams Papers)
I had the pleasure of receiving from you a very excellent Letter last week, which fully proves that neither your Patriotism, or abilities have sufferd any elimination by your engagements in the ploding buisness of an accomptant, tho a course of years might have blunted the Edge of literary persuits, which are much better suited to your Education, taste and usefulness in Life. I rejoice...
179John Adams to Joshua Johnson, 4 December 1797 (Adams Papers)
A Letter from my Nephew, M r: William Cranch of the City of Washington, informing me of your arrival, gives me an opportunity of congratulating you and M rs: Johnson and the young Ladies, on your good fortune in seeing your Native Country, after so long an Absence and so tedious a Voyage— I have at the same time to thank you for an amiable daughter, and to congratulate you, on the acquisition...
180Abigail Adams to Cotton Tufts, 6 December 1797 (Adams Papers)
I received your Letter of Nov br 24 by the post of yesterday. with respect to the Notes you wrote me about I wish you to do by them as you would by your own, as I do not want at present neither Principle or interest. I think it would be most for my interest to do by them as you propose. the method you mention of adding to the out house so as to give me a dairy Room I like very much, and would...