1John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 21 March 1801 (Adams Papers)
While I was sealing up on the last post day; the cover to M r: Pitcairn, of my number 29. I received two packets from you, containing three copies of the translation, and the three first numbers of the Port-Folio, with a couple of newspapers besides— Your few lines of January 23 d: were in one of the packets; and the next day came to hand your N: 23. of January 15 th: The packets are marked as...
2Abigail Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 22 March 1801 (Adams Papers)
I have not written you a line since my return to Quincy. I have found full employ to get my House in order, and my Family arranged, against your Fathers return; which Was on Wednesday last; we have all once more assembled at the old Habitation in Safety; Without any accident, except to myself. I unfortunatly, got my foot in a hole in one of the carriages as I was getting out; and fell through,...
3John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 28 March 1801 (Adams Papers)
I now enclose together with a press copy of my last letter to you, the original of one addressed to your father, containing observations upon a french pamphlet, which I have sent him. This letter however is not to be sent to him, but to be published in the Port Folio, if the Editor thinks proper. Of course, without indicating either the writer, or the person, to whom it is addressed— My design...
4John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 4 April 1801 (Adams Papers)
You will receive enclosed with this, a duplicate of my letter, relative to your annual account, and a literary letter of this date, containing an account of an interview between Frederic 2. and the poet Gellert, which I hope will amuse you.— If you chuse, it may be published as one of the letters on various topics of foreign literature. At the same time with your accounts, I received a couple...
5John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 6 April 1801 (Adams Papers)
I know not how it has happened that I have not found time to write you Since my return to my long home. The angry North East Wind, which has prevailed with little Interruption has pinched my faculties, I believe. We have been all, pretty well. This is the Day of our Election of Governor Lt Gov r. & senators. The Democrats are very Sanguine and the others are not So. The former Say that M r...
6John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 11 April 1801 (Adams Papers)
You have here a triplicate of my letter respecting your account—a duplicate of the conversation between Frederic. 2. & Gellert. And the first number of a series, in which I purpose to review an important late french work, which I shall send to your father. It seems to me as if the frequency of writing shortened the distance between us. But you will not complain if it likewise sometimes...
7Abigail Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 22 April 1801 (Adams Papers)
I have read Your Brothers Letters, with much pleasure; that part of them; in which he so dutifully, affectionatly, and generously tenders all his property for the use of his parents, affected both your Father and me most tenderly; thank God, we have not any occasion for it; our desires are moderate, our oeconomy strickt, our income, tho moderate, will furnish us with all the necessaries, and...
8Abigail Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 16 May 1801 (Adams Papers)
I have received two Letters from you since I wrote to you, one 26 April, the last 2 d May—inclosing one from Your Brother, which I now return, without knowing what advice to give You; upon the Subject of it; in what productive property you can place his interest, excepting those he has prohibited you from, I know not, the funds of this State Stand well, and are to be had with great difficulty,...
9John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 30 May 1801 (Adams Papers)
I enclose you for M r: Oldschool a letter commencing the review of a new publication of M r: Gentz— You will perhaps enquire, why I begin upon this before I have finished the examination of the Etat de la France — The reason is that this last book was lent to me; that the owner called upon me to return it and that I have been unable to procure me a copy of it either in this town or at the...
10John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 9 June 1801 (Adams Papers)
I wrote you last week that I expected to sail on board the Catherine, Captain Ingersoll, from Hamburg for New-York— But he goes so much sooner than I expected, that I am unable to take the advantage of this opportunity, and shall be obliged to wait for another— Perhaps even, I may embark for Philadelphia, though from various reasons I am averse to going there; balanced only by the single...
11Abigail Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 12 June 1801 (Adams Papers)
William Shaw brought me your Letter the day before Yesterday. I had learnt before, by the public papers, the Death of mrs Bingham, and many have been my reflection upon it. [“]Health presuming, Beauty Blooming, ah how dreadfull tis to dye,” says fair Rossomond; that mrs Bingham was one of the most Elegant, and highly accomplishd women our Country has furnished, no one who knew her, will deny....
12John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 29 June 1801 (Adams Papers)
If any one had foretold that three or four months would have passed away at Stonnyfield, and that I should have written but one short line to my dear Thomas, I should have resented the prediction, as an affront to my understanding, if not to my heart—yet so it is. I have not even acknowledged yours of 21 st. of May. My heart was too full to write upon the subject of that of your letter which...
13Abigail Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 5 July 1801 (Adams Papers)
I told William Shaw of the event which You have s[. . . .]olely questioned, and from the best Authority, even the hand writing of the Father in a letter to me; of the 14 of April. “The day before yesterday at half past three oclock afternoon, my dear Louissa gave me a son, she has had a very severe time through the winter, and is now so ill that I dare not write to her Mother to give her...
14John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 11 July 1801 (Adams Papers)
I received yours of the 4 th with double pleasure occasioned by the Encouragement you give me to hope that I shall See you Soon at this chosen Spot. There are indeed in this Country, all the Characters and humours that you describe, and there will be such for many years to come, which will keep alive the extravagant Spirit of democracy, longer than it would live of itself. Exaggerations of...
15Abigail Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 12 July 1801 (Adams Papers)
I am much delighted to learn that you intend making a visit to the old mansion. I wish you could have accomplished it So as to have been here by this time, which would have given You an opportunity of being at commencment, meeting many of your old acquaintance, and visiting the Seat of science where You received your first Rudiments; I shall look daily for you You will find your Father in his...
16Abigail Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 10 September 1801 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a Letter for your Brother should he arrive as we expect in Philadelphia; I am told by mr Welch who was yesterday to see us that you have Letters from Hamburgh from your Brother dated in july— if He & family should arrive in health, as I pray God they may, there first visit will be I presume to Washington, I think as they will be so near, it ought to be—tho I can scarcly give up the...
17John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 15 September 1801 (Adams Papers)
Have a care, that you do not let Captain Duane know, that I am reading Cicero de Senectute again: because he will immediately insert in his Aurora Borealis, that I recollected, those Words in the 17 th Chapter “nihil ei tam regale videri, quam Studium agri colendi.” He will Say that there is nothing in building Stone Wall, or in collecting Heaps of Compost, but the tang of Royalty and...
18John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 16 September 1801 (Adams Papers)
On Sunday morning, after a cold and somewhat tedious ride all the preceding night I reached Newark— Pass’d the day and next night there, and on Monday, your sister took me into town with her. I have bespoke my passage for Providence, and am waiting only for a wind. Old M rs: Smith and her daughter Nancy were very obliging, and the Col l: is friendly and hospitable as usual.— He has introduced...
19John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 27 September 1801 (Adams Papers)
I arrived here in three days from New-York, last Monday Evening, the 21 st: inst t: — I found my father in good health and spirits— My mother has been very unwell, but I am happy to tell you is upon the recovery. Whitcomb got here two days ago, and brought me, your facetious letter of the 18 th: —with the Port-Folio, for which I give you my thanks— But it is still incomplete for the prospectus...
20John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 24 October 1801 (Adams Papers)
I have duly received your letter enclosing the 8 per Cents, and the bank bill, for which I am to give you my best thanks. I arrived here safely after a fatiguing journey of thirty hours from Philadelphia, and had the happiness to find my wife and child in very good health— Louisa looks better than she has for years before, and I flatter my self with the hope that she will find this climate...
21John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 28 November 1801 (Adams Papers)
The remnant of our pilgrimage since we left you at M rs: Roberts’s door, stands thus— Monday Nov r: 16. lodg’d at Trenton—Tuesday, at M rs: Smith’s in Newark; where we found only the old lady and little Abby—M rs: Charles Adams was in New-York— Wednesday morning we reached that place— The roads began to be deep and reminded us that we were quite late enough in the season— Two days at New-York—...
22Abigail Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 27 December 1801 (Adams Papers)
I have not written you a Letter for a long time, yet I have not been unthoughtfull of you. my mind is often anxiously engaged for the welfare of my children. when my tongue is silent, and my pen inactive; Your Brother and Family have been with me ever since their arrival, untill last week when they got into their House in Boston; Mrs Adams has had a very allarming cough & pain in her Breast...
23John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 9 January 1802 (Adams Papers)
I have received three letters from you without making the proper returns— The occasion of which has been the continual occupation I have found in moving, repairing and furnishing my house, and entering upon my office— These things are now chiefly accomplish’d, and I hope in future to have more leisure for making communications to you.— I can however not promise much in that respect.— My time...
24John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 1 February 1802 (Adams Papers)
Politicks are forbidden fruit to me, at present, and what other Subject can I choose for a Letter? Shall I tell you what Books I read? or how many times a Week I go into the Woods? These Informations would not be interesting to you. I Suppose I may hint at a Question of Law without giving offence to the Powers that be, or the Powers that once were, but be not. A great noise has been made about...
25Abigail Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 7 February 1802 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of the Jan’ry I received near a fortnight ago, and have thought every day since that I would write to you; but few occurrences arise to amuse You, or entertain You of a domestick nature, and dissertations are not what you want; Your proposed project of removing to the state of Newyork occupies my attention. I know it must be urksome to you to pluck up stakes, (as the saying is)...
26Abigail Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 28 February 1802 (Adams Papers)
Your Father received a Letter from you last Evening; full of political information, and judicious reflection’s; there is a darkness visible; upon all our national prospects; which cast a Gloom upon my declining days. What of Life remains to me, I should rejoice to pass in tranquility; but danger takes rapid strides; and faction and party Rage will soon involve us in a civil war: or a Lethargy...
27John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 1 March 1802 (Adams Papers)
M r Dobson the Bookseller has an Account open with me.— It is of 13 or 14. or 15 Years Standing.— Several Years ago he Sent his account to me, but, intending to take the ballance due to me in books I did not Sign it. I wish you would call upon him, and presenting him my Compliments pray him to Send his Account to me through you. I presume there is a ballance due to me. This ballance you may...
28John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 12 March 1802 (Adams Papers)
I rec d. last night, your Letter of the 3 d.— It was far from my thoughts to assign you a task. I meant only to turn your mind to a Subject, which must necessaryly engage much of your contemplations, as long as you live. The Folc Right, the Peoples Right, the common law, is the natural, Inheritance of Us all. It is our Birth Right. But precious as it is, and dear as it ought to be to all our...
29Abigail Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 13 March 1802 (Adams Papers)
I have received two Barrels of flower but no account of the price either from the Baker or You. be so kind so to forward one to me. also let me know as soon as possible whether my Letters of the 28 of Febry got safe to Hand. the Roads were so bad at that time, and the Mails so irregular that I had feard for the letters. I would not Suppose that there is less responsibility in the Post masters...
30John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 10 April 1802 (Adams Papers)
I rec d in due Course your favour of March 18 and thank you for your prompt and punctual attention to my several requests. The Harleyan Miscellany I should be glad to have. M r Dobsons account I presume is correct. I know not the Cost of the Harleyan Miscellany: but if any ballance should remain you may take it in any Books you may want, or Send any to me that you think have merit. I have rec...