41John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams 2d, 25 May – 17 July 1785 (Adams Papers)
You have doubtless received before this, my Letter by Mr. Barclay, and you will have my N:2 in a day or two. I address’d it under cover to Mr. Jefferson, in case it should arrive after your departure. The morning after the date of my last, our Captain, ordered me to go on board, and at about 10 o’clock we weigh’d our anchors and set sail, but before we could get clear of the Harbour, the wind...
42John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams 2d, 29 August 1785 (Adams Papers)
I came into Boston this morning, and shall probably spend the week here, in order to pay all my visits, and see all those persons, that it will be necessary to show myself to. Stopping at Milton, I was very much surprized, when Mrs. Warren inform’d me, that Mr. Otis shut up last Saturday Evening: had the news come from any other Person, I should not at that time have believ’d it, for I was...
43John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams 2d, 8 September 1785 (Adams Papers)
All this day has been employ’d in answering Questions respecting you, and all is not over yet. I must mention one Circumstance, although it may appear too trifling. You may Remember, that in your Letters by me, you gave an Account of the Ceremony at Nôtre Dame. All the family, were very much entertained, by your Relation, but there was a Question arose to day, what, the Ring was. One supposed...
44Thomas Jefferson to Abigail Adams Smith, 15 January 1787 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Jefferson has the honour to present his compliments to Mrs. Smith and to send her the two pair of Corsets she desired. He wishes they may be suitable, as Mrs. Smith omitted to send her measure. Times are altered since Mademoiselle de Sanson had the honour of knowing her. Should they be too small however, she will be so good as to lay them by a while. There are ebbs as well as flows in this...
45Eunice Paine to Abigail Adams and Abigail Adams 2d, 7 July 1784 (Adams Papers)
It is now the 7th. of July, the 18th. day Since we Saw You Quit our shores to seek a happier Climate. We perceived the Active passing as we went up to Publick worship, there we did not forget to ask favour for our friends (who had commited themselves to the Variable Elements) of him who alone Governeth. Our fondest wishes have been granted as far was we can yet know; a happier season for the...
46Elizabeth Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams Smith, 27 November 1786 (Adams Papers)
I must frankly acknowledge to my Dear Niece that I could not but wonder at her long Silence. I feared that my Letters had not reached her, or that I had inadvertenly written something that had wounded her feelings, and so had, in her estimation, forfeited that Love, and generous confidence which she had so kindly placed in me. But when I recieved a Letter from your Mother last April, which...
47Elizabeth Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams 2d, 4 June 1786 (Adams Papers)
Pray Madam, are you married? Nay then the wonder ceases. No matter now how loose your affections are towards every other Object. No matter now if every former friend, lies neglected, and forgot. But is Love really a narrower of the Heart ? Does it as, Mr JQA asserts, “diminish general benevolence , and particular Friendships”? Does it like a Vortex draw all into one point, and absorb every...
48Elizabeth Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams 2d, 14 February 1786 (Adams Papers)
Yours My Dear Niece, of October 2d came safe to hand, and as I read, I could not but admire the justness of Thought, and the propriety and Elegance of Expression. My Heart assented to the truth of every Sentiment, but if you make the frequent writing to you, the Scale by which you judge of the love and affection of your Friends, I fear I shall be found wanting , through a multiplicity of Cares...
49Elizabeth Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams 2d, 19 November 1785 (Adams Papers)
Tuesday the first of November, I received from you, my ever dear Neice, a Letter dated the 3d. of August. Were I to describe to you the Ideas I have, of the merit of its Author, it might perhaps, flatter your Vanity. For some I suppose you are possessed of, in common with the rest of your Sex, however you may modify and direct it. Roseau says, it is inherent, and constitutes a part of our very...
50William Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams Smith, 14 January 1800 (Adams Papers)
I am, my dear, here at General White’s in company with Mrs. and Judge Cushing, Mrs., Miss, and Judge Paterson, &c. I thank you for your letter, and am of course pleased with the dignified majority in the House of Representatives. Be it known, we are not building a dancing room; be it known I have not built an elegant hut. I should not have gratified my feelings relative to you had I not made...
51William Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams Smith, 28 October 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received your letter of the 24th, this day, the after part of which has been taken up in the reception of the 13th regiment into our camp. The scene was brilliant, and attended by the whole of the inhabitants of the adjacent country. It is now over; and after giving a welcome in my tent to the officers and respectable inhabitants, and it being 10 o’clock at night, I compose myself to...
52William Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams Smith, 24 November 1799 (Adams Papers)
I had the pleasure, my dear, of receiving your favour of the 20th yesterday. * * * * * * * * You say you often think of me, enduring, as I must, many hardships and inconveniences; they are, however, hardships and inconveniences which scarce deserve regard, relating only to the person; the pains which really incommode, are in the mind, occasioned by delays in the supply of the necessary...
53William Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams Smith, 22 December 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have the pleasure to inform you that I struck my marquée on the 19th, and took shelter in my hut, which is yet without doors to it, but much more comfortable than the tent. The last night I slept in the tent, a bottle of wine, standing on the table, froze through, but still I was not uncomfortable. It will be some time before I can have the pleasure to announce to you, that the hut is...
54William Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams Smith, 23 December 1799 (Adams Papers)
I received yours of the 19th this afternoon, and yesterday received orders from General Hamilton to prepare for the funeral rites of our departed General, on Thursday next. I have put every thing in the necessary train of execution, preparative to the reception of his final orders, which I expect to receive in the course of the night; and last night I determined to erect a monument to his...
55William Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams Smith, 26 February 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have received your letter, by the Paymaster, of the 12th. I see your embarrassments, and if I were not prominent to relieve you from them, I should forfeit my charter— the roads are bad, the season is inclement, the Delaware is almost impassable — your mamma cannot bear to part with you, and the President does not know how to let C—— go. These are truths which nobody can deny. I will...
56Charles Storer to Abigail Adams 2d, 24 May 1785 (Adams Papers)
I wrote you this, Amelia, in answer to yours, No. 8, received a day or two ago, for which accept my thanks. I had really begun to think our correspondence had, to use a common phrase, “seen its best days,” as you had suffered so long a time to pass without improving it. Now I hope other things. The number of this I cannot give you, as, being in the country, I have not my memorandum book near....
57Charles Storer to Abigail Adams 2d, 29 December 1785 (Adams Papers)
I join fully with you, Amelia, that whatever is, is right. Yet I cannot but regret that the winds hurried me so soon from England. But weigh the matter, says prudence. The office was important, the task arduous, and very much expected from it. Had I failed, what an everlasting blot. This is a thought, Amelia, that would have staggered me in my wish to go; nor would self-examination have aided...
58Charles Storer to Abigail Adams 2d, 21 November 1785 (Adams Papers)
My word I mean always to keep, Amelia, so I write you from this place, though my letter may be barren of subjects to entertain or interest you. One thing, however, there is, which I hope, and am willing to be sure, is not indifferent to you, and that is the information of our safe arrival here. It is a matter of no little joy and satisfaction to me, be assured; your participation, as it will...
59Charles Storer to Abigail Adams 2d, 5 November 1784 (Adams Papers)
Monitor, Amelia? I don’t know whether the idea is more flattering or affronting. What an old fellow would one suppose Eugenio to be, from the task you assign him! But to advise, as you say, is the criterion of friendship, and this only was the extent of my offer to you on your arrival. I thought it would be of advantage to you to consult, or, to use a more familiar term, to chat, with one...
60Charles Storer to Abigail Adams Smith, 8 August 1786 (Adams Papers)
You know, Amelia, I am never backward in writing my friends: therefore, when I tell you that I have four of your favours by me unanswered, I trust you will not lay the blame on my good will. Some of them were received where I could neither acknowledge them myself, nor had I one to do it for me, and the others came at an inconvenient time. Be persuaded, however, that the will is good, (as,...
61John Thaxter to Abigail Adams 2d, 25 August 1781 (Adams Papers)
I was yesterday honoured with a Letter from Braintree dated the 25th of May last, and tho’ an anonymous one, yet the hand writing, connected with other Circumstances, warranted my subjoining the Signature of the amiable and accomplished Daughter of one of the first Ladies of the Age, to whose Goodness added to your Politeness I am indebted for this mark of Attention. I have embraced the first...