1Thomas Boylston Adams to Joseph Pitcairn, 27 March 1801 (Adams Papers)
A ship called the Cleopatra sailed from this port a few weeks since without bearing any thing for you from me, which I desire may be attributed to my want of notice, that she was about to depart— I now enclose you the sequel of the Port Folio, and at the same time have the pleasure to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of the 8 th: December, which came to hand on the 5 th: inst t: . In...
2Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 30 March 1801 (Adams Papers)
Your kind letter dated this day week, has just come to hand. I rejoice to hear of your arrival once more at the farm house & that you have so far recovered from the unlucky accident, which befel you, as to be able to walk about. The return of my father was announced in the newspapers & with the addition of a line, signifying that “his worth would make him welcome there.” It is a source of...
3Thomas Boylston Adams to William Smith Shaw, 30 March 1801 (Adams Papers)
I had not time to write before the departure of the post to day, to both you & my mother, and having received a letter from her she was best intitled to my earliest regards, though, if I rightly remember, you favor written at Suffield has not yet been acknowledged— Watsons Bill is enclosd as you desire— Dickins is not your debtor But you are his to the amount of four or five dollars, as I...
4Thomas Boylston Adams to William Smith Shaw, 5 April 1801 (Adams Papers)
Your letter of the 29 th: ult o: is just received. with the papers enclosed, for which I thank you— The address of the Legislature is friendly— Answer proper — The letter, which is published in the Commercial Gazette, as from the Washington federalist, I had read with great satisfaction, in manuscript— I hope to grasp the hand that wrote it in a few months— The gentleman will find it more...
5Thomas Boylston Adams to John Adams, 10 April 1801 (Adams Papers)
I enclose for your perusal two of the latest letters received by me, from my Brother; although the last contains a conditional injunction, against the communication of it, to you, I am sure it will gratify your feelings, to discover the spirit, which dictated so much solicitude, on your account. That he should have felt all the anxiety, which he describes, both as it concerned the public &...
6Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 12 April 1801 (Adams Papers)
Within the course of the last week, I have had the pleasure to receive your favors of the 20 th: 27 th: & 30 th: of December, number’s 19–20–21. of the series, which wants only No 18 to be complete. The interest, which your letters never fail to excite, has been abundantly testified by the eagerness, with which subscriptions to the Port folio have been sent forward, from every part of the...
7Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 26 April 1801 (Adams Papers)
Ten days ago, I shipped your Carriage on board a Schooner called the Hannah of Nantucket bound for Boston, and as there was no room below, I had to consent to its being secured upon Deck. Since the vessel sailed, we have had, until this day, a constant Succession of North Easterly storms, which has given me uneasiness on account of your property on board, and in order to cover the loss, in...
8Thomas Boylston Adams to William Smith Shaw, 27 April 1801 (Adams Papers)
I have your letter of the 17 th: , which travelled, from Boston hither, in very agreeable company. I can readily conceive, the novelty of your situation in a lawyers office, joined to other novelties of quite as pleasant a nature, would tend to distract your thoughts, for some time. Without undertaking to advise you on the subject of your recent pursuit, I will barely say, that the Office of...
9Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 2 May 1801 (Adams Papers)
Your favor of the 22 d: ult o: has been a few days in hand. I thank you kindly for “the word intended for my private ear,” and shall avail myself freely of the offer, when occasion may require. Since, I wrote you last, I concluded that it was hardly worth while to Insure the Carriage, and therefore if fortune has proved adverse, your loss will be total as to the body of the Coach only, unless...
10Thomas Boylston Adams to William Smith Shaw, 14 May 1801 (Adams Papers)
I enclose you a paper, which contains the Sentence referred to in my last, passed upon the troopers who flogged Duane. You will be able to form from the perusal of it, a more accurate opinion of the merits, than you could from my statement. The Circuit Court of the United States, under the new organization, opened on Monday— Present the three Judges— I attended & heard the charge delivered by...
11Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 31 May 1801 (Adams Papers)
I received your favor of the 16 th: on the 23 d: inst t: . My time has been so much taken up, during the week past with removing my Office & lodgings, that I could not conveniently devote any portion of it to return you an answer. I have now obtained an establishment, which has long been the object of my wishes, namely an Office under the same roof, where I lodge; in a pleasant part of Walnut...
12Thomas Boylston Adams to Rufus King, 2 June 1801 (Adams Papers)
I take the liberty to enclose to your care a letter for my brother, who may possibly be in England, on his way to America, about the time this will arrive in that Country. I have been instructed by my brother, as long ago as the beginning of February, that I might draw bills upon you, to the amount of £ St g 1400, and the reason why I have not complied with his wishes, in this respect, is...
13Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 8 June 1801 (Adams Papers)
I have just received from the Department of State your favor of February 24 th: enclosing N o 26. of the series. My last number, goes by duplicate to England, under cover to M r: King; with that, you will receive a particular acknowledgment of all the letters received from you, for three months past, and I cannot but hope that you may find one of the copies, either at Hamburg or in London,...
14Thomas Boylston Adams to Joseph Pitcairn, 17 June 1801 (Adams Papers)
Your favors of the 7 th: & 31 st: of March & 3 d: of April, are yet unacknowledged, though they have been some time received. No vessel has sailed directly for your port, since I last wrote; until the ship Benjamin, on board of which I sent you a packet of the port folio. I also sent a packet for my Brother, but I apprehend he will have left Berlin before it can arrive, though possibly he may...
15Thomas Boylston Adams to William Smith Shaw, 22 June 1801 (Adams Papers)
It falls to my lot to do things so repugnant to my inclination & so contrary to my sense of strict propriety, that I know not what apology to offer for complying, in opposition to both, with the absurd customs of the times, which so often impose a necessity of thus betraying my judgment. What answer can be given to a man who after living for a few months under the same roof with you, though in...
16Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 20 September 1801 (Adams Papers)
I received your favor of the 10 th: inst t: the Day before yesterday, with an enclosure for J Q A & his wife, which I forwarded to her, as I perceived it was addressed to them, both. They spent a week with me here, during the hottest spell of weather, we have experienced, this summer, and though much overcome by it, I was surprized to find, that they bore it so well. D r: Rush, in the absence...
17Thomas Boylston Adams to William Smith Shaw, 20 September 1801 (Adams Papers)
I have your letter of the 14 th: with a paper for which I thank you. M r: Reed, has written to you, in consequence of the information respecting the demur, about delivering his trunk, and contrary to my advice, has sent money to pay Bills, which he says he had already, once discharged. I never will recommend any of my friends to that vile house so help me, truth! Since my return, I have been...
18Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 24 October 1801 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favors of the 5 th: & 12 th: curr t: ; the first containing the mournful tidings of the death of our venerable Uncle Quincy; and the latter, by my brother, directing me to procure for you a mourning ring. I hope by the time my brother returns from Washington, to have your commission complied with, but as you gave me no particular directions respecting the fashion of the...
19Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 7 December 1801 (Adams Papers)
I have just now received your favor of the 28 th: ult. with the enclosures; Dennie stepp’d in a moment after, and I gave him the fable, for which he thanks you. He desires me to add, that as he cannot expect, from your present, unsettled State, you will have much time to bestow in producing original matter, he will be grateful for any thing, you may Send him, from your stock on hand. I was...
20Thomas Boylston Adams to William Cranch, 30 January 1802 (Adams Papers)
I have to acknowledge your favor of the 13 th: ult o: . The principal subject in which you dwelt; viz: the intention to destroy the main pillar of our political edifice, has since undergone a very serious discussion; and you have doubtless listened with peculiar interest to the spirited debates, which the motion of M r: Brackenridge has produced in the Senate of the United States. The...
21Thomas Boylston Adams to John Adams, 15 February 1802 (Adams Papers)
I had the pleasure to receive, this morning, your favor of the 1 st: curr t: and now hasten to acknowledge it, with more eagerness, on account of the long interval, which has elapsed, since I have written particularly to yourself. I am not sorry, that you consider politicks, as forbidden fruit, for though you cannot fail to form an opinion, upon the very novel & extraordinary occurrences, in...
22Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 22 February 1802 (Adams Papers)
I have your favor of the 7 th: inst t: before me; the letter for M rs: Adams, which came with it, was sent to her the day after, I received it, and the same day, she called in a carriage at my Office, to inform me of its receipt. Her daughter was with her and in good health. I have not been able to visit her so often as I wished, but before she returns to NewYork I will try to see her again. I...
23Thomas Boylston Adams to Joseph Clay Jr., 18 March 1802 (Adams Papers)
At the request of my father, M r: John Adams. I take the liberty, through you, to present the volumes, herewith sent to the Philosophical Society of Philadelphia. It is believed, that the first volume of this work, has already been presented, by the Author, to the Society; if so, the sett will now be complete. I am, Sir, respectfully / Your most obed: hble Serv t RC ( PPAmP :Record Group IIa);...
24Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 20 March 1802 (Adams Papers)
Your kind favors of 28 th: February & 13 th: March, came safe to hand; I thank you for them, and should have sooner acknowledged their receipt, but for the constant sitting of Courts, ever since. I repent, that I have written so much to you and my father, on the subject of myself, since I perceive, that it has produced so much uneasiness & anxiety, not to say more, on my account. It would have...
25Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 7 May 1802 (Adams Papers)
Since the receipt of your favor of the 18 th: ult: I have been absent from the City, a few days, attending a County Court, and tomorrow I expect to set out for another excursion of a similar nature. There is but little immediate benefit, derived from riding the circuit in order to attend the Courts in this vicinity; for the business is principally engrossed by those who reside in the shire...
26Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 16 May 1802 (Adams Papers)
I received, at Norristown, while attending a County Court, your favor of the 25 th: ult: with an enclosure for Old-school, which is already delivered to him. He is thankful for it, as well as for the translation of Bulow, which you will perceive he has begun to publish. The concluding sentence of the Editor’s introduction will excite your smile, as being the first instance, wherein he has...
27Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 28 May 1802 (Adams Papers)
I have your favor of the 23 d: inst: before me. The Country looks so pleasant and inviting in the vicinity of this City, that I have no difficulty in conceiving the beauties of Quincy farm, at this moment. I have lately passed some days, at different intervals, in the Country, and found much benefit, from the change of air. As to the accident, which befel me, I should scarcely have thought it...
28Thomas Boylston Adams to William Smith Shaw, 13 June 1802 (Adams Papers)
I received your short note, accompanying the Oration delivered by my brother, before the charitable fire Association, and thank you for the promptness of your attention in transmitting it. The perusal of it was a rich repast, and though its merit did not surpass, it fully equalled my expectations. I am yet to hear from you, in answer to some of my late communications. You have certainly lost...
29Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 14 July 1802 (Adams Papers)
I have received & thank you for your favor of the 6 th: curr t: . This day, twelve months ago, I left Philadelphia to visit my friends, in N. England, but however strong my inclination to see them often, I must forego that gratification for the sake of bettering my condition here. Should any serious cause occur, such as the yellow fever, (of which we have already had some alarm), which should...
30Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 20 October 1802 (Adams Papers)
M r: Walter who had been in the City several days, while I was absent, called at my dwelling & left your favor of the 5 th: inst t: yesterday. I am sorry, that he proceeded to Washington without my seeing him, but he promises me this pleasure on his return. I have now returned to my old haunts for the season, and though we cannot yet boast of perfect health in the City, there is reason to...
31Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 21 October 1802 (Adams Papers)
I have at length returned to the City for the purpose of remaining in it during the rest of the Season. We do not yet pretend to be free from cases of autumnal fever, which have been particularly malignant and fatal; but those, who, like myself, are believers in domestic origin, may return without apprehension. From my brother I have had accounts, from time to time, of the health of our family...
32Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 30 November 1802 (Adams Papers)
The Eastern Mail brought your letter of the 23 d: this morning. The business part of it stands thus. D r: Woodhouse has been in the habit of putting up chemical equipage at various prices, and when our friend Quincy wrote for one, last year I communicated the order to the D r: Professor himself, who promised to attend to it. This promise no doubt escaped his memory, as he has since been twice...
33Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 5 January 1803 (Adams Papers)
I received, yesterday, your favor of the 27 th: ult. and thank you, for the wholesome admonitions, it contains. Your advice will always receive due attention, both from myself and our friend. When you shall have received and perused, the concluding numbers of the Port Folio, & taken with you the consideration of the extreme rapidity with which they were published, I think you will discover...
34Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 12 January 1803 (Adams Papers)
Since I am embarked in a very doubtful speculation, and I am ready to own, that I am by no means sanguine as to its success, yet as I am assured of your good will and best wishes towards the promotion of our interest, you must also indulge me in one request I have to make, which is to leave off croaking , which you know I never could endure, not because I could not appretiate the use and the...
35Thomas Boylston Adams to John Adams, 18 January 1803 (Adams Papers)
I lately enclosed you a prospectus of the Rev d Doctor Smith’s works accompanied by a print of the Author, which I sent rather as a specimen of good American Engraving, than on any other account; although as a subscriber to the work, which will ere long be published, you might wish to posses so striking a likeness of the Author. I sent the print and prospectus without any knowledge of M r:...
36Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 25 January 1803 (Adams Papers)
I do not intend to write you very often, though I find it impossible to refrain altogether. Your last, is of the 10 th: inst t: but a subsequent enclosure has been received, which gave great joy to our trusty and well-beloved O.O. A second sheet is wished, before the publication commences, lest the thread should be broken. As yet you will not expect any very brilliant account of success,...
37Thomas Boylston Adams to John Adams, 25 February 1803 (Adams Papers)
Your two letters on La Harpe, I have taken the liberty to publish in the Port Folio, and I have now to ask the favor of you, as your leisure & inclination may serve, to pursue your extracts & comments upon any portion of that great work, which you may find agreeable or think useful. I make this request in behalf of the Editor of the Port Folio, who will be flattered & obliged by any literary...
38Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 10 March 1803 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favors of the 18 th: ult: and 2 d: instant, the latter enclosing a valuable communication from my father; for which please to express my thanks. I have taken note of those “thoughts on the times,” and will make use of them. I hope M r: Ames , will continue to expand his thoughts on those topics. The Port Folio begins to get into some favor all over the Country, and the...
39Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 30 June 1803 (Adams Papers)
Your favor of the 20 th: inst: came to hand yesterday, in the condition, which you have the cover here enclosed, except that the wax was not broken. By some means or other, the packet was sent on to Washington , and the name of J. Adams. on the back of it, must have excited the curiosity of some body, who from appearances, took the very excusable liberty, in this free country, to inspect its...
40Thomas Boylston Adams to William Smith Shaw, 31 August 1803 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of the 24 th: is before me, and I most ardently hope the information respecting the prospect of my mother’s recovery may not prove delusive. I expected a letter from my brother by this day’s mail, but am disappointed. My suspence & anxiety have been extreme for ten days past, and nothing but your letter, which assures me, that my mother was considerably better, has relieved my...
41Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 15 December 1803 (Adams Papers)
I reached Boston on Saturday Evening the 10 th: inst: and came out to Quincy on Sunday afternoon, with Cousin Shaw— Our parents are well; my Mother is wonderfully recovered, and seems to me to be as active & busy as ever about her family— this is a great comfort to me, and will help to render solitude in some measure supportable. to me. I feel, that there will be ample time to reflect on my...
42Thomas Boylston Adams to William Meredith, 8 February 1804 (Adams Papers)
On the 3 d inst: I enclosed to you, Bank Notes of various descriptions, amounting to two hundred and ninety dollars, accompanied by a letter of advice as to the disposal of the money. I hope you will receive it and apply it as requested. I have, since I left your City, been leading a desultory, or as Joe says, a miscellaneous life, and have therefore collected very little information worthy of...
43Thomas Boylston Adams to William Meredith, 22 April 1804 (Adams Papers)
I received yesterday your favor of the 15 th: and thank you for your attention to my Commissions. The Books, I believe, had best be sold, as you suggest, at Auction, and to the highest bidder. I shall regret the sacrifice of the folio Edition of the laws, because they have been heretofore in great demand, and in time, would probably sell for a just price, but I must forego the benefit of a...
44Thomas Boylston Adams to Thomas Cadwalader, 26 July 1804 (Adams Papers)
I had for sometime contemplated offering you my congratulations on the auspicious event of your marriage, before the authentic annunciation of it, under your own hand. I noticed, with very lively pleasure this accession to the fund of happiness, which, if the wishes of friendship can [avail,] will be as inexhaustible as the Bank of my friends personal merits. You have been as prompt to...
45Thomas Boylston Adams to James Sullivan, 23 October 1804 (Adams Papers)
Having waited some time in expectation of an answer to the last proposal, which I had the honor to submit to your consideration relative to the settlement of the dispute between the proprietors of the Middlesex Canal Company & the owners of the Teel farm at Medford, I am induced once more to call the attention of the Gentlemen of the Committee to this subject. The Season is already so far...
46From Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 17 November 1804 (Adams Papers)
I received to day your favor of the 7th: inst: covering the journal & Speech not spoken—since which I have had no time to read either—Parson Bentley’s promotion is to me by no means unaccountable—I heard something, by going to Salem so often last winter—If you like to hear a very familiar conversation between a frail mortal and infinite wisdom, listen to the prayers of this “no God or twenty...
47From Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 6 December 1804 (Adams Papers)
Your letter of the 26th: is So copiously answered that I shall reserve my fire for a future occasion, when I hope to be better able to write than I am now. I have been seized furiously by the Nose within a few days, by a fretful & provoking tumour, which has made me fell more indisposed than I have for a twelvemonth. It has distorted my face rather unluckily, just at this time, & moreover so...
48From Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 23 December 1804 (Adams Papers)
I did not think to receive a reply to my letter of the 2d: instant, before I had the Mail charged with another and on the way to Washington. Yet so it is, and I am now to acknowledge your favor of the 13th: which came to hand yesterday with enclosures The Journals of the H. R. I have received to No 14 inclusive & but three sheets of the journal of Senate. Bills, Messages & Reports, in...
49From Thomas Boylston Adams to William Smith Shaw, 24 April 1805 (Adams Papers)
I want the form of a petition to be presented to the Court of Sessions, praying for a Committee to be appointed to assess damages, in case of property damaged by the proprietors of the Middlesex Canal—If you can not find a form, this side of Cambridge, you must go there and obtain one from the Clerks Office of the Sessions, where I presume you will find some on file— Our Petition must be...
50From Thomas Boylston Adams to William Smith Shaw, 5 September 1805 (Adams Papers)
Next Monday (the 9th: currt) the Court of Sessions sit at Concord for the County of Middlesex—I have made a draft of a petition to be presented for a Committee to be appointed to appraise damages for the proprietors of Medford farm—Can you go there and present it—if not I will send it to my friend Danl. Adams of Hopkinton as I cannot go myself on account of its being so near last of service...