1To John Adams from Mercy Otis Warren, 27 August 1807 (Adams Papers)
At a time of life when retirement is sought for, and the release from all political attentions desired, ten long letters of accusation and reproach, of interrogation and retrospection, within the term of a few weeks, may be designed, not only to distress, but to create passions in my bosom which were never felt nor indulged. When I finished mine of August 15th, I thought I might calculate on a...
2To John Adams from Mercy Otis Warren, 15 August 1807 (Adams Papers)
You begin your Letter, Sir, of August 8th. with complaints of “new demonstrations of Mrs. Warren’s friendship.” Indeed, I cannot see the smallest foundation of complaint from page 229, Vol. 3d. of the Revolutionary History, to signing the Treaty with Great Britain page 232, that could give cause for the smallest umbrage, except the inadvertency of placing the names of Benjamin Franklin and...
3To John Adams from Mercy Otis Warren, 7 August 1807 (Adams Papers)
I know not how to satisfy the demands you make upon my time and patience without entering into discussions, which, at this late day, I have no wish to call up. Yet the chain of your illiberal criticisms still kept up in your subsequent letters, obliges me, however reluctantly, to pursue my remarks. I shall, therefore as leisure permits, attend to most of your paragraphs, exclusive of the...
4To John Adams from Mercy Otis Warren, 1 August 1807 (Adams Papers)
Your fourth Letter like the preceding ones, discovers a fixed determination to mis-construe every expression of mine, where-ever You, Sir, are introduced in my History of the American Revolution. I am astonished that you should discover so much resentment at a sentence in page 140, particularly at the word mortified. I did, at the time alluded to, think you in a mortified situation. I did...
5To John Adams from Mercy Otis Warren, 28 July 1807 (Adams Papers)
Before I had an opportunity to forward my reply to yours of July 11th: I received another letter under date July 20th containing twenty pages, in which so many demands are made and so many threats denounced, that a total silence might be construed dismay. My thread of existence in this evanescent state is too far spent for me again to enter on political discussion; yet, I think it my duty to...
6To John Adams from Mercy Otis Warren, 16 July 1807 (Adams Papers)
After a long suspension of a friendly literary intercourse, it was very unexpected to me this day, to receive a letter from the hand of Mr. Adams;—nor can I conceive of any thing that should occasion a resentment in his bosom, or prevent his old style of address to Mrs. Warren, or give the semblance of an “old friend being hastily converted into an enemy;”—much less could I have expected to...
7From Mercy Otis Warren to Abigail Smith Adams, 11 July 1807 (Adams Papers)
Though your last Letter was not immediately answered, I offer no apology but my own frequent infirmity. It was, my dear Mrs Adams, a very pleasant circumstance to me, to receive an account from your own hand, of your appreciated health, nor did I find in your late letter, any marks of the shattered condition of your head, of which you complain.—Indeed, I think the bough that bends to the gale,...
8From Mercy Otis Warren to Abigail Smith Adams, 28 December 1806 (Adams Papers)
It is a long time since I have had a line from a friend who for many years I have cordially loved, and have been grieved that in so many of them, the intercourse has been seldom.—It is true I have by me an excellent letter of yours which has lain too long unanswered;—but the great debility which has long afflicted my eyes has & still deprives me of the use of my own pen, nor is it easy to...
9To Thomas Jefferson from Mercy Otis Warren, 14 April 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
With respect and diffidence, the author asks his acceptance, and presents the two first Volumes of the History of the American Revolution, to the President of the United States. Perhaps the perusal of them may serve as an interlude in some leisure hours, when detached from the momentous avocations which occupy your important life. If the work should meet your approbation the author will feel...
10To Thomas Jefferson from Mercy Otis Warren, 5 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I take the liberty to direct to the President of the United States, the Prospectus of a work, of which the author indulges the flattering anticipation that it will accord with his opinions, and that in manner and style, it may be approved by the correct taste of Mr. Jefferson.— This is a mark of bold ambition.—Thus as usual, human vanity prompts to raise expectation high.—If disappointed, your...
11To John Adams from Mercy Otis Warren, 28 August 1803 (Adams Papers)
The painful tidings I have this afternoon transiently heard relative to the health of my long beloved friend Mrs: Adams, induce me to trouble you with a line to enquire what is her present situation, of which you will be so kind as to inform me by the return of the post.—I pray that she may not be in so hazardous a state as is reported, but that her useful life may be protected.— You will...
12Mercy Otis Warren to Abigail Adams, 10 January 1803 (Adams Papers)
Painful necessity has for many months prevented me the use of my own pen,—nor have I seen any effect of yours for a very long period;— yet, judging from my own feelings, I have no doubt, you will be gratified by a renewed enquiry after your health and happiness.— By your son, I understand that the felicity of his parents is not interupted by any of the infirmities which usually creep on with...
13To Thomas Jefferson from Mercy Otis Warren, 31 May 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Mrs. Warren offers respectful Compliments to the President for expressions of esteem that would be very flattering to any one much more ambitious than herself—It is true, Sir, she has not gone with the current —none of her family has ever gone with the current, though borne down by a strong tide, for want of suppleness to the system of the late Administration:—with becoming firmness they have...