1Abigail Adams to John Adams, 20 September 1783 (Adams Papers)
Dearer if possible than ever; for all the parental props which once sustaind and supported me are fallen! My Father, my Father, where is he? With Humble confidence I can say; he is with the spirits of just Men made perfect, become an inhabitant of that Country, from whose Bourn no traveller returns. In my last Letter to you, I recollect to have particularly mentiond both our dear and venerable...
2Abigail Adams to John Adams, 19 October 1783 (Adams Papers)
My last Letter to you was written in Sepbr. I closed it, because I knew not how to think upon any other subject than the solemn one I had just past through; since that date I have received a Number of Letters from you, written in April, May, june and 2 in july. To hear from you is a satisfaction, but the whole tenor of your Letters rather added to my melancholy, than mitigated it. The state of...
3Abigail Adams to John Adams, 11 November 1783 (Adams Papers)
Col. Trumble has been so kind as to visit me, and request a Letter from me to you; I have promised him one. You direct me to write by every opportunity, I very seldom let one slip unimproved, but I find many more conveyances by way of England than any other. I have written twice to you since the recept of your last favour, which was dated july 17th. I wish you to write by way of England but to...
4Abigail Adams to John Adams, 20 November 1783 (Adams Papers)
Your favour dated at Amsterdam in july was last evening handed to me; and this evening your Letter of the 10th of Sepbr. by Col. Ogden reached me. I had for some time supposed that the delay of publick buisness would retard your return; hearing that the definitive treaty was not compleated untill september, and knowing that the commercial Treaty was still to form; I had little reason to expect...
5Abigail Adams to John Adams, 7 December 1783 (Adams Papers)
Will you honour a Bill of mine, drawn in favour of Uncle Smith for 60 pounds, to pay for 9 acres of wood land which I have purchased of William Adams being part of the estate of Benjamin Ruggles, which fell to Mr. Adams in right of his wife. You will think I have given a large price for it, but it is not so much as your Brother has given him for a 6 acre Lot adjoining to his. The Lot I have...
6Abigail Adams to John Adams, 15 December 1783 (Adams Papers)
I returned last Evening from Boston, where I went at the kind invitation of my uncle and Aunt, to celebrate our Anual festival. Doctor Cooper being dangerously Sick, I went to hear Mr. Clark; who is Setled with Dr. Chauncey; this Gentleman gave us an animated elegant and sensible discourse, from Isaah 55 chapter and 12th verse—“For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with Peace; the...
7Abigail Adams to John Adams, 27 December 1783 (Adams Papers)
I did not receive your Letter of August the 14th. untill this very Evening; I was much gratified to find I had done what you directed, before your Letter reach’d me. That is, that I had bought a wood Lot. Concerning this purchase I have already written to you; but least that letter should not arrive, I will repeat, that the Lot I have purchased is a part of 27 acres which belonged to Samuel...
8Abigail Adams to John Adams, 3 January 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have already written you 3 Letters, which have been waiting a long time for a passage; they will now all go in one ship, provided I can get this to Town to morrow; tho She was ordered for sailing to day, yet I trust to the delay which vessels usually have. Last evening I received a packet of Letters from Nabby who has been in Town a month; inclosing Your Letters by Mr. Robbins, who arrived...
9Royall Tyler to John Adams, 13 January 1784 (Adams Papers)
When a man’s views are direct and his Intentions consistant with Honour and Virtue he seldom affects Concealment. I will not presume therefore that my Attentions to your Daughter are Unknown to you. If you demand why an affair of so much importance to your Domestick Concerns was not communicated by me sooner, I hope that my Youth, the early progress of my professional career, and the continued...
10Abigail Adams to John Adams, 15 January 1784 (Adams Papers)
I write you again by this vessel altho it seem’s as if there was a Spell to detain her; she has letters of various dates from me as you will find, some of which I hoped had reachd you, but the vessels by which they were sent, met with bad weather and were dismasted obliged to return into port. This letter will not be able to boast of any other merit than that of being last dated, for I can...
11Richard Cranch to John Adams, 20 January 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have received your esteemed Favour of the 10th. of Sepr. 1783, and am sorry to find that the Happiness we flatter’d our selves with soon enjoying on your Return, is postponed to a more distant Period. But the Consideration of the very important Services for your Country that you are still engaged in, makes it our Duty to sacrifice our private Enjoyments to the greater Good of the Public. The...
12Abigail Adams to John Adams, 11 February 1784 (Adams Papers)
Two days only are wanting to campleat six years since my dearest Friend first crost the Atlantick. But three months of the Six Years have been Spent in America. The airy delusive phantom Hope, how has she eluded my prospects. And my expectations of your return from month to month, have vanished “like the baseless Fabrick of a vision.” You invite me to you, you call me to follow you, the most...
13Abigail Adams to John Adams, 15 March 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have not received a Line from you, nor heard a Syllable Since yours of November 18th, which I have allready acknowledged. I am impatient now, to receive further intelligence from you; and to learn where you are. Captn. Love in the Ship Rossamond, bound to England, must have arrived before this time, by him I trust you have received many Letters from me. I have had but one opportunity of...
14Abigail Adams to John Adams, 12 April 1784 (Adams Papers)
I hope this will be the last Letter which I shall have occasion to write to you, before I embark for Europe. Uncle Smith has been urgent with me to embrace the present opportunity and take passage on Board Capt. Calihan, and Captn. Callihan has sent me word that he would wait ten days for me, but I cannot think it prudent to embark untill I hear again from you, which I am daily expecting. Not...
15Elizabeth Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams, 6 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
I am glad to hear that my Cousins got home well. Poor Boys I believe that they had their Coats wet enough a Thursday, I was really sorry, but I hope they did not catch cold. The thoughts of seeing their Mamma, and Sister, kept their Spirits in motion I dare say. Mr. Thaxter got here Tuesday noon. He looks very natural, and appears exceeding agreeable. I hope he will meet with Success. Mrs....
16John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 18 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have only time to write a few lines for the present as the Post is about to depart. On Saturday the 15th. instant I sailed in the Packet Boat from Hellevoetsluys, and had another, long tedious voyage, tho’ the weather was so fine as to compensate for it in some measure. I arrived yesterday in the afternoon at Harwich, from which place I came in the Stage Coach here. The Adelphi Hotel, being...
17John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 20 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have been looking out for lodgings, yesterday and this day, and have at length found a bed Room, in the House, where Mr. Smith lodges; and as he intends to go into the Country next week, I shall then take those Rooms which he now occupies. Captain Calohan , is expected every day, and it is very probable that within a fortnight, I shall hear from our Ladies. I have not seen Mr. Stockdale yet,...
18Abigail Adams to John Adams, 25 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
I came to Town yesterday and have engaged My passage on Board the ship Active Capt. Lyde, agreable to the advise of my Friends: she will sail in about a fortnight or 3 Weeks and is the only good vessel now going. Mrs. Jones with whom I hoped to have been a passenger is still in so poor Health that there is no prospect of her going very soon and my Uncle Smith upon whose judgment and care I...
19John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 25 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday, I met Mr. Bridgen at the Coffee House; he told me he had a book for you, and this morning he sent it to my lodgings; Mr. Watson who leaves this place to morrow, has been so kind as to offer to take charge of any thing I wish to send, and will deliver you the volume, with this. The Parliament have done nothing as yet, as all the time has been taken up, in swearing in the Members,...
20John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 1 June 1784 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday I received your favour by Dr. Parker, and was very glad to find you pleased with your situation, tho’ I was myself in pretty low Spirits. I have been continually endeavouring to get acquainted with some person who would introduce me into the House of Commons, and have not as yet succeeded; on the other hand, Callihan is arrived; has had a delightful passage, but in lieu of our...
21John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 6 June 1784 (Adams Papers)
Last Wednesday Mr. W. Vaughan, got me introduced into the house of Commons, and I was there, from about 2. in the afternoon till 1. the next morning. The Subject, was a very dry, uninteresting one to me, it was the Westminster election, and the time, till 10 at night was taken up in hearing the Council counsel , on one side for Mr. Fox, and the electors of Westminster who petitioned, and on...
22John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 11 June 1784 (Adams Papers)
I am so pleased with your Letters, in general, that you may well believe that of the 6. has contributed very much to my Happiness. As you have found the Way into the Gallery, I hope you will not neglect it, but attend every Day. It is a great and illustrious School. I return you inclosed, the Letter from Mr. Dexter to Mr. Temple, to whom present my Compliments. In a Letter I wrote a Year ago...
23John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 15 June 1784 (Adams Papers)
I this day receiv’d your favour of the 11th. instant and expect to send the Books away, in the course of this week, if I receive no contrary orders from you I shall leave this place, to morrow se’en nig ht, and shall attend Parliament, and the courts of Justice, which are now sitting, as often as possible, in the mean time. Mr. Whitefoord, who has been extremely polite and kind to me,...
24John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 18 June 1784 (Adams Papers)
In my last Letter, I informed you of my intention to set off for the Hague next Wednesday; since that I have thought that it would be more prudent for me to wait ’till the Saturday after; because Mr. Smith is now in the Country, and will in all probability return before in the course of the next week, and I shall then be able to see him before I go: I believe he intends returning to America...
25Richard Cranch to John Adams, 18 June 1784 (Adams Papers)
The Oportunity that now presents of sending this by your most amiable Friend, while it makes me glad to think that so great an Addition will be made to your Happiness by the arrival of two Persons so deservedly dear to you; yet at the same time our Loss is such, as, in spight of all our Philosophy must throw a melancholly Shade over our remaining social Enjoyments. May Heaven preserve those...
26Richard Cranch to John Adams, 3 July 1784 (Adams Papers)
I wrote you a few Lines by your most amiable Partner who sailed in a Ship commanded by Capt. Byfield Lyde, from Boston, the 20th. Ulto. I hope that before you receive this you will have had the inexpressible Happiness of meeting her and your dear Daughter in Europe. Our worthy Friend the Honble. Cotton Tufts Esqr. wrote you this Morning, since which the Secretary has deliver’d me the inclosed...
27Cotton Tufts to John Adams, 3 July 1784 (Adams Papers)
Since Mrs. Adams’s Departure I have revolved within myself, whether you would not have an Inclination to purchase the piece of Land on Pens Hill (belonging to the Estate of the Honle. James Verchild late of St. Kitts deceased) which you have for some years past improved. His Heirs, I am informed, are now in England, that the Estate in the West Indies is under Mortgage, But that part of it...
28Abigail Adams to John Adams, 23 July 1784 (Adams Papers)
At length Heaven be praised I am with our daughter safely landed upon the British Shore after a passage of 30 days from Boston to the Downs. We landed at Deal the 20 instant, rejoiced at any rate to set our feet again upon the land. What is past, and what we sufferd by sickness and fatigue, I will think no more of. It is all done away in the joyfull hope of soon holding to my Bosom the dearest...
29Abigail Adams to John Adams, 30 July 1784 (Adams Papers)
I was this day made very happy by the arrival of a son in whom I can trace the strongest likeness of a parent every way dear to me. I had thought before I saw him, that I could not be mistaken in him, but I might have set with him for some time without knowing him. I am at a loss to know what you would wish me to do, as Mr. Jefferson arrived last week at Portsmouth, immediately from Boston,...
30John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 30 July 1784 (Adams Papers)
I was so lucky as to have a passage of 26 hours from Helvoet sluis to Harwich and arrived in town this morning. I will not attempt to describe my feelings at meeting two persons so dear to me after so long an absence: I will only say I was completely happy. You will perhaps have heard before this reaches you, that Mr. Jefferson is arrived, and is gone forward to Paris. This may perhaps alter...
31John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 6 August 1784 (Adams Papers)
We have not received as yet any answer to the letters we wrote you the day I arrived in town; and are yet in a State of great uncertainty and doubt whether to go over to Holland or to go directly on to Paris to meet you there. We have got all ready to leave this Place to morrow morning if we had received any directions from you, and indeed we had some thoughts of setting off for Harwich at any...
32Richard Cranch to John Adams, 12 August 1784 (Adams Papers)
After a long Interval, I had Yesterday the great Happiness of receiving your esteemed Favour of the 3d. of April. I immediately sent the inclosed to Mr. Tyler. I have not seen him since your Letter came to his Hand. When I consider the amazing Exertions of Mind that you must have been continually making, and the Anxieties that must necessarily have prey’d upon your Spirits while Events of the...
33Royall Tyler to John Adams, 27 August 1784 (Adams Papers)
I received your Letter of the Third of April, Two Days since. Whether from the very great Interest I have in the Subject, or some more latent cause; I never Felt more at a loss to Express myself with Propriety, than on the present Occasion. I can only generally Desire you, to accept from me, all those returns of Gratitude, which, a Man of Ingenuity may be supposed to render to the person, to...
34Cotton Tufts to John Adams, 26 November 1784 (Adams Papers)
Yours of Sept. 5. I received the 13th. Instant and rejoice to hear that You are in the Enjoyment of that Family Felicity, which your Scituation heretofore necessarily prevented. The Powers which You have given and the Trust which You have committed to me are great. How well I shall execute them Time must determine. New Care and new Trusts have for some Years past been encreasing upon me , they...
35John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 18 May 1785 (Adams Papers)
After a very warm and dusty Journey, setting out early, and riding late, I arrived here on Monday the 16th. instant at about 4. o’clock in the morning. As soon as I had taken a little rest, I enquired for Mr. Barclay; and immediately went for him. He would have been in Paris, before now, had he not been retained by illness: he is not yet well but seems determined to go for Paris to-morrow...
36Richard Cranch to John Adams, 3 June 1785 (Adams Papers)
This will be handed to you by a worthy young Gentleman Mr. Bulfinch Son of Doctor Bulfinch; I doubt not but his Conduct will render him worthy of your Notice. I have not time to write you on publick Matters at present. The County have put me into the Senate this Year and we have very hard Service. I have enclosed the Speech of our new Governour &c. He is a Man of System and Application, and I...
37Mary McCann to John Adams and Abigail Adams, 2 July 1785 (Adams Papers)
Having humbly presumed to wait on you to solicit the honor of serving your Excellency’s Family with Cream and Milk, and had the honor to give you at the Hotel last Fryday, a Recommendation from his Excellency the Spanish Ambassador’s Steward, you was pleased to order me to wait at your House in Grosvenor Square Yesterday Morning with Cream and Milk, which I accordingly did; but may it please...
38John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 3 August 1785 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Church proposes to embark on board the british Packet, which is to sail to-morrow. He has offered to take my Letters, and I suppose, he will be the bearer of dispatches from Congress.—Our Passage, though it was not a stormy one, was very tedious. Of eight weeks, that we were at Sea, we had at least four of such calm weather as not to proceed more than 8 or 10 leagues a day. As we were...
39Cotton Tufts to John Adams (Adams Papers)
The Want of a sufficient Power in Congress to regulate the national Concerns of the United States is now pretty generally seen and has been severely felt. In the opening of the last Session of the Gen Court, the Governor in his Address to both Houses among other Things laments that Congress had not been authorized to regulate their foreign Trade, and suggests the Necessity of further Powers...
40Cotton Tufts to John Adams, 6 October 1785 (Adams Papers)
On the 6th. Ultimo I drew on You for £100 sterling in Favour of Mr. Samuel Eliot, payable at 30 Days Sight of whom I received 5 Per Cent above Par. The Exchange has been somewhat higher, up to 7 Per Cent, but has fallen, and it is thought will be still lower. Part of the Money received I have let out for a few Months on private Security that I may if Occasion should call, have wherewith to...
41Royall Tyler to John Adams, 15 October 1785 (Adams Papers)
It has not been without Anxiety, that I have refrained from addressing a Letter to you for some months past. But not having the Advantage of a Femiliar, or even the Honour of a Personal Acquaintance: There was but one Subject upon which I could write to you liberally: and I intended to have Desisted from that, Until the Completion of my Arrangements should enable me to Discuss it to our mutual...
42Richard Cranch to John Adams, 19 November 1785 (Adams Papers)
I have just received the within Letters, and as I hear Capt. Young is to sail tomorrow I take the liberty of inclosing them to you. By Capt. Cushing who sailed a few Weeks ago I sent you the News-Papers from last May, and by Capt. Young I have sent the Papers since and a Register for 1786. I have also sent a little Bundle for Sister Adams. I wrote you largely by Capt. Cushing, and have wrote...
43Richard Cranch to John Adams, 29 December 1785 (Adams Papers)
When the Senate was last sitting I desired the Honble. Mr. Goodhue≠ of Salem, to answer your Request to me about the Cod-Fishery, and give you a Statement of it—and I learn by Capt. Geo: Williams that a Letter he deliver’d me a few Days ago (which I herewith send you) contains his Observations on that Subject. The Hon: Peleg Coffin Esqr. of Nantucket, the Senator for that County, also promised...
44John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 2 April 1786 (Adams Papers)
After having suffered so long an interval of Time to pass, since I wrote you last, it is absolutely necessary, for my own justification, to give you, an account of my Studies, since my return home, and if it is not sufficient, to exculpate me intirely, I hope, at least it will induce you to forgive me. When I arrived here, I found, that I had far more to go through, than I had an Idea of...
45Richard Cranch to John Adams, 20 May 1786 (Adams Papers)
We have received the Favour of your Letters and those from Sister Adams, by the Captains Cushing and Lyde. Cushing arrived on Sunday last and Lyde on Monday. I thank you for the further explanation of your Sentiments respecting the probable Operation of our Navigation Act, and think they are well founded. I think what you mention about the Sugar Trade with France in return for our Oil, is a...
46John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 21 May 1786 (Adams Papers)
I am now much more at my disposal, with respect to my Time, than I was at Haverhill, and can devote more of it to writing, though, it is said, this Quarter, that is, the last of the Junior Sophister year, is most important, and busy, than any other in the four years. Mr: Williams’s Lectures on natural Philosophy, render it so; his Course consists of 24 Lectures, 13 of which we have already...
47Cotton Tufts to John Adams, 18 July 1786 (Adams Papers)
Mrs. Cranch last Evening informed me, That a Mr. Standfast Smith of this Town is empowered to sell Verchilds Lands. Would it not be agreable to You to purchase those belonging to His Heirs which you have improved for some Years past? Sometime past I sued Sloane and recovered judgment against Him. He has given a Release to the Lands mortgaged and I think it would be best to sell them as they...
48William Stephens Smith to John and Abigail Adams, 8 August 1786 (Adams Papers)
We were pleased by the receipt of yours of the 5th. inst. from Harwich, to find that your jaunt to that period and place had proved so agreable, you have our earnest wishes for its continuance. But we have been apprehensive since, that the fine Sun and fair Brieze which invited you on board in the morning, forsook you before, you had crossed the Channel. At this place, the after part of the...
49John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 30 August 1786 (Adams Papers)
I received a few days agone, your favour of June 2d: you mention an Affair, concerning which I had determined to write in the begin ning of this Quarter. I have thought much of an Office in which to Study the Law. Should you return home next Spring, and be yourself at Leisure to instruct me, I should certainly prefer that to studying any where else. But if you are still detained in Europe, I...
50Abigail Adams to John Adams, 23 December 1786 (Adams Papers)
We arrived here about four oclock a fryday afternoon, after a very pleasent journey. The weather was somewhat cold, but a clear Sky and a fine Sun Shine was ample compensation. We found convenient apartments, Good Beaf Mutton and excellent fish for dinner; it was fortunate that we engaged Lodgings before we came, as every House is full. To day being rainy and fogy we have not made any...