1Mercy Otis Warren to John and Abigail Adams, 17 May 1774 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Warren being prevented by many Avocations from writing this Morning, has put the pen into the hand of his substitute: who with him presents sincere Regards to Mr. and Mrs. Adams. Lets them know they have been Repeatedly disappointed in not seeing them at Plimouth. Shall not pretend to Deliniate the painful Ideas that arise on a survey of the Evils Brought on this much injure’d Country by...
2To 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...
3To John Adams from Mercy Otis Warren, 8 April 1786 (Adams Papers)
While in the silent watches of the Last night I was Contemplating the Vicissitudes of Life, the Fickleness of Mankind & the Instability of human Friendships.— I determined to take up my pen in the morning & inquire if it was possible that M r Adams should never have directed one line to his frends at Milton since he held the Rank of Minister at the Court of Britain. I have been always...
4To 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...
5To 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...
6To John Adams from Mercy Otis Warren, 15 October 1778 (Adams Papers)
A long abscence from your Native shore would insure a Welcome to a line from me had I no other Claim to your Attention. But when I Can Recur to former Instances of friendship And indulgence, and in addition to that assure you I take up my pen in Compliance with the Repeated request of your Good Lady, I Can suppose it possible that Even the most important Negotiations may for a Moment be...
7To John Adams from Mercy Otis Warren, 12 October 1775 (Adams Papers)
I Write again from Waterton, where I Arrived Yesterday with your Excelent Friend who has been so much Engaged by his Necessary Attention to public affairs that he has had time since you Left us only to run to Plimouth four days ago and bring back your Correspondent to this Crouded inconvenient place, where the Muses Cannot dwell, or the Graces of Elegance Reside. Yet the feelings of Real...
8To John Adams from Mercy Otis Warren, 4 April 1775 (Adams Papers)
At the same time that I make my Gratful Acknowledgment, for the instructive sentiments and Friendly hint, Contained in yours of the 15th March I must ask your indulgence so far as to Favour me with your opinion (by my son who will Call on you on Monday Next) of the present dark and Gloomy aspect of public affairs. Is there no hope that the Dread Calamity of Civil Convulsions may yet be...
9To John Adams from Mercy Otis Warren, 7 January 1787 (Adams Papers)
The most of my leasure hours since I have resided on the Hill at Milton have been devoted to my pen. Yet I have never adventured to lay any of the productions before the public Eye. But I have such full confidence in your judgment & Friendship that I now submit to you Either to dispose of to the best advantage or to return by some safe hand a Dramatic Work Composed about two years since, &...
10To John Adams from Mercy Otis Warren, 5 July 1775 (Adams Papers)
I have had the pleasure of seeing several of your Letters in which you Complain that your friends are Rather remiss With Regard to writing you which I think inexcusable at a time when the Liberties of all America and the fate of the British Empire Depend, in a Great Measure on the Result of your Deliberating for if that Respectable Body of which you are a Member, fails, (Either from want of...
11To John Adams from Mercy Otis Warren, 28 December 1780 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Warren directed to you only one week since by Capt. Cazneau bound to Amsterdam, therefore has now left it to me to write one time asking your Care of the inclosed, to a Son for whose Welfare, a Heart so Replete as yours with all the parental affections will not wonder I am Exceedingly solicitous. We have not heard from him since He Embarked at N Foundland on Board the Vestal Frigate, in...
12To John Adams from Mercy Otis Warren, 15 November 1780 (Adams Papers)
I put a Letter of Introduction into the Hand of a son who has since unfortunately been made a prisoner by the Portland Man of War, and though held as an Hostage till the fulfilment of Certain Conditions Mentioned in a Cartel sent to Boston, he has been treated with great Humanity and politeness by Admiral Edwards, and by late letters I find he purposes to pursue his Voyage to Europe, and if he...
13To John Adams from Mercy Otis Warren, 10 July 1814 (Adams Papers)
It is very many days since I address’d a line to any of my Quincy friends, and as I think I have been some time in arrears for a very agreeable letter from the late President, my first attention is due to desire and I am quickened to discharge this obligation from having recently heard by my Sister Otis, that your health is declining.—The years you have counted up admonish that the harbingers...
14To 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...
15To John Adams from Mercy Otis Warren, 7 May 1789 (Adams Papers)
Presuming on the Confidential & unremiting Friendship that has long subsisted between us; Grounded on the close connextion commenced with mr Warren in the early part of your life; I again address you without waiting an answer to my last, which according to your usual politeness & punctuallity I doubt not will be noticed as soon as the particular engagments that have lately occupied your...
16To John Adams from Mercy Otis Warren, 12 February 1814 (Adams Papers)
The sudden death of a very amiable Grand–Son, has involved myself and family in such deep affliction, as prevents me from replying, as I intended this day, to the last mark, of your kind attention, dated the Second Instt.—I thought it my duty to return Governor Mc.Kean’s letter immediately, as requested.—By your permission I took the liberty to have it copied, and may observe upon it, when I...
Yours my dear Sir, of the 15th Ulto: is in the same stile of partial friendship which I witnessed many years ago.—If the author of the Group ever deserved half the encomiums which you have lavished on her talents, it ought to be rescued from oblivion.—I know of no one living who can or will do this but yourself.—You expressed a wish in yours to have your memory refreshed.—In consequence of...
18To 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...
19To John Adams from Mercy Otis Warren, 30 January 1775 (Adams Papers)
The very polite introduction to yours of Jan 3d I Consider not only as A Complement far beyond any Merit I can presume to Claim, but as Resulting in some Measure from that partial Byas which Ever Leads us to View through the most Favourable Medium whatever Regards those we Consider in the Light of Friendship. But when assure’d that I think myself both Honour’d and oblige’d whenever Mr. Adams...
20To John Adams from Mercy Otis Warren, 2 April 1789 (Adams Papers)
You are too well acquainted with the history of the world & the distresses of mankind to expect to stand on the eminence of rank, fortune, and influence without solicitations from various quarters— Where you feel a friendship it will always be a sufficient stimulous for the exertion of every kind office without importunity: & when applyed to by strangers in distress your benevolence I trust...
21To John Adams from Mercy Otis Warren, 24 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
You Will doubtless hear from several quarters of the arrival of admiral Greavess squadron who anchored of point Judith 4 days since. You have heard from better hands of the present situation of this Country, the Military Manuvers, the political opperations, the Disinterestedness of the Inhabitants and the purity of the Manners. You have been told that the New Constitution has been accepted,...
22To John Adams from Mercy Otis Warren, 3 April 1776 (Adams Papers)
The sudden departure of the plunderers of Boston and the removal of the Continental troops from Cambridge occasions a temporary calm in the eastern region; but if the storm should again burst upon this quarter, I fear we shall be too destitute of skillful navigators, to oppose its fury with success: though we have still a few left among us whose tried courage and experience has set danger at...
23To John Adams from Mercy Otis Warren, 12 September 1813 (Adams Papers)
I was much gratified by seeing your signature affixed to a Letter address’d to Mrs. Warren.—I am also gratified and obliged by the marks of your attention manifest in the interesting inclosures of yours under date September 1st.—one of which deeply affected me as a Sister.—I have for many years known your respect and regard for a brother so justly esteemed by his connections, his friends, and...
24To John Adams from Mercy Otis Warren, 25 October 1782 (Adams Papers)
Many Months have Elapsed, and many Great Events have taken place since I took up my pen to address you, among which few are more important to this Country than the Dutch Negotiation, and perhaps None have been attended with Greater Difficulties, and none more Replete with Honour to the prime actors than this. Yet I should not have Ventured to pass my Censure on Its opposers, or to Give...
25Mercy Otis Warren to John Adams, 1 June 1784 (Adams Papers)
This will be handed you by a person who will insure the welcome did it come from one who has much less Claim to your Friendship than the writer. at the same time her communications will render any other needless from your American Friends. this therfore is only a line in Testemony of my Respect & Regard. Though if I was to indulge my pen it would be very Expresive of my Wishes for your Early...
26To 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...
27To John Adams from Mercy Otis Warren, ca. 4 September 1785 (Adams Papers)
The account of your sons arrival you will have from Himself.— the pleasure his Friends receive from his return you will not doubt, and in Every instance where my advice or attention may be Either useful or pleasing be assured I shall treat him as my own, not only from that long Friendship I have felt for his parents Backed by their perticuler request, but from the affection I dare say his...
28To John Adams from Mercy Otis Warren, 29 July 1779 (Adams Papers)
This Morning your Vigalent and invariable Friend wrote you a long letter which makes it unnecessary for me to take up my pen nor should I have done it by this opportunity but in Compliance with the Wishes of Him who is so partial as to think it in my power to Contribute to the Entertainment of a Gentleman who (from Interest, from Vanity and from more Noble principles) has such a Multitude of...
29To John Adams from Mercy Otis Warren, 8 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
I now put a letter of introduction into the hand of a son, who agreeable to your polite and friendly invitation waits on you on his first arrival at Paris. I believe I may venture to say he is a youth, who, will by no part of his conduct, disgrace the recommendations of the friend, or disappoint the expectations of the parent. Yet whoever enters at an early period amidst a world of strangers,...
30To John Adams from Mercy Otis Warren, October 1775 (Adams Papers)
The extensive system of policy which must engross your thoughts, and the vast field of business in which you are engaged, is such that I feel some checks whenever I call of f your attention for a moment on anything so unimportant as a letter of mine. Yet I cannot find myself willing to give up the pleasure of corresponding with a gentleman, I hold in high estimation, both as a defender of the...
31To John Adams from Mercy Otis Warren, 11 October 1773 (Adams Papers)
MS ( Adams Papers ) in the hand of Mercy (Otis) Warren. This unsigned poem was doubtless an enclosure in a letter which has since been lost. For Mrs. Warren’s relationship with the Adamses, see Adams Family Correspondence Adams Family Correspondence , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1963– . , 1:84 , note and references there. This reference is not to Gov. Hutchinson’s brother,...
32To John Adams from Mercy Otis Warren, 31 March 1814 (Adams Papers)
I doubt not Sir, You will be pleased when I tell You that the Evening of my life is smoothed by the intercourse with a number of sensible, pious, elegant correspondents.—Younger than myself, indeed they are—but there are yet a few left, who stand near the grade of old age as well as myself, though not so far advanced.—It is truly a satisfaction to me to receive letters from a Gentleman with...
33To John Adams from Mercy Otis Warren, 4 September 1775 (Adams Papers)
This afternoon came to Hand your Favour of August 26. May you ever have it in your power to expatiate this Largly on your own Happiness, but I would not have you Imagine when you in your sixteen hours Nap and Dreaming of the Feilds of Arcadia, and are Enraptured with the Happy Elisian and paridisaic scenes at Braintree that you are the only Happy Mortal among your Numerous Circle of Friends. I...
34To John Adams from Mercy Otis Warren, 4 May 1783 (Adams Papers)
Did not the stronger motive of friendship Excite, I think the Gratitude due from Each individual of Your Country would be a stimulus sufficient to set the pen in motion. urged by such laudable principles an apology for calling asside your Attention from objects of greater Magnitude is unnecessary. And if I am the last to Congratulate you on the success of your Negotiations I will Venture to...
35To John Adams from James and Mercy Otis Warren, 14 July 1774 (Adams Papers)
Yours of the 25th. of last month never reached me, till yesterday. It would have given me great pleasure to have seen you when I returned from Salem, and I was really greatly disappointed to find you and Family gone, and more especially as I was Apprehensive I should have no Other Opportunity of seeing you, till the Time called for your Attendance at the Grand Council of America, An Assembly...
36To John Adams from Mercy Otis Warren, 10 March 1776 (Adams Papers)
As your time is so Much Devoted to the Service of the publick that you have Little Leasure for Letters of friendship or Amusement And Conscious of Incapacity to write anything that would be of the smallest utility to the Common Weal, I have been for sometime Ballancing in my Mind Whether I should again Interrupt your Important Moments, but on Reperusing yours of January 8th I find a query...
37To John Adams from Mercy Otis Warren, 17 January 1791 (Adams Papers)
An unsealed letter from you came to my hand this day. for the letter I thank you. as it contained expressions of regard & esteem which I have been used to receive from your pen. for the manner I own myself at a loss— Dos not an unsealed letter from you sir appear like a diminution of that Confidential intercourse that long subsisted? and Conveyed warm from the heart the strong expressions of...
38To John Adams from Mercy Otis Warren, 15 December 1778 (Adams Papers)
I Cannot but think myself a sufferer by the Many Captures on American Navigation, for as you are undoubtedly a Gentleman of the strictest Veracity, I must suppose the Watery Damsels that Attend the ouzy Board of the Grey Headed Neptune, are much more Fortunate than the Woodland Dames of America. Otherways, Notwithstanding the Bussy and important scenes in which You are ingaged a folio from the...
39To John Adams from Mercy Otis Warren, 22 December 1813 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of the 24th. Ulto: ought to be early acknowledged by one, who, through a long life has not been insensible of the worth of friendship, or negligent, whenever in her power to cherish the invaluable treasure.—I am therefore, delighted to see our young people strengthening each other in that disposition, which may be a source of happiness to them as they tread over the stage of life...
40To 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...
41To John Adams from Mercy Otis Warren, 27 April 1785 (Adams Papers)
I thank you sir for your favour of the 13 th Decmber. I take up my pen to acknowledge it, & to Congratulate you on your Domestic Felicity in the Last Eight months. but shall not direct to you at the pleasant Villa of Auteuil: but to the Court of London, as it is probable before this you & your Family have left the Residence of the distinguished literati of France; perhaps for the Grotto of...