211Abigail Adams to John Adams, 13 February 1779 (Adams Papers)
This is the Anniversary of a very melancholy Day to me, it rose upon me this morning with the recollection of Scenes too tender to Name.—Your own Sensibility will supply your Memory and dictate to your pen a kind remembrance of those dear connections to whom you waved an adeiu, whilst the full Heart and weeping Eye followed your foot steps till intervening objects obstructed the Sight. This...
212Abigail Adams to John Adams, 20 March 1779 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of December 9 came to hand this Evening from Philadelphia, by the same post received a Letter from Mr. L ovel l transcribing some passages from one of the same date to him, and the only one he says which he has received since your absence, and his pocket proves that he has written 18teen different times, yet possibly you may have received as few from him; the watery world alone can...
213Abigail Adams to John Adams, 8 June 1779 (Adams Papers)
Six Months have already elapsed since I heard a syllable from you or my dear Son, and five since I have had one single opportunity of conveying a line to you. Letters of various dates have lain months at the Navy Board, and a packet and Frigate both ready to sail at an hours warning have been months waiting the orders of Congress. They no doubt have their reasons, or ought to have for...
214Richard Cranch to John Adams, 11 June 1779 (Adams Papers)
I have just now deliver’d to your Friend Genl. Warren of the Navy-Board, a Pacquet from Sister Adams directed to you. The Genl. informs me that a Vessell will sail for Nants next Sunday, by which he will send it. Tho’ I cannot learn that any of my former Letters have reach’d you, yet I gladly take hold of the same Oportunity to try again to convey a Letter to so dear a Friend. I have had the...
215Abigail Adams to John Adams, 14 November 1779 (Adams Papers)
My habitation, how disconsolate it looks! My table I set down to it but cannot swallow my food. O Why was I born with so much Sensibility and why possessing it have I so often been call’d to struggle with it? I wish to see you again, was I sure you would not be gone, I could not withstand the temptation of comeing to town, tho my Heart would suffer over again the cruel torture of Seperation....
216Abigail Adams to John Adams, 10 December 1779 (Adams Papers)
I will not omit any opportunity of writing tho ever so great an uncertainty whether it will ever reach your Hand. My Unkle Smith has a vessel bound to Calis, he advises me to write, and I most willingly comply tho my Faith in the conveyance is but poor—indeed I have lost my Faith with my Spirits. My Friends assure me from their observations that you must have had a good passage. God grant it I...
217Abigail Adams to John Adams, 18 January 1780 (Adams Papers)
It is now a little more than two months since you left me. I have many hopes that you had a prosperous voyage and that you were some weeks ago safely landed in France. I have been so happy as to hear from you twice upon your passage. Capt. Carr arrived safe and carefully deliverd your Letters. You left this coast in the best time that could have been chosen. Winter set in with all its horrors...
218Richard Cranch to John Adams, 18 January 1780 (Adams Papers)
I was last Evening at your House and left Mrs. Adams, Miss Nabby and Master Tommy well, as are also all the rest of our Connections. The Communication between this Town and Braintree is at present extremely difficult by means of a greater Quantity of Snow on the Ground than has been known for forty Years past. I bro’t two Pacquets from Mrs. Adams which I deliver’d to Genl. Warren for...
219Abigail Adams to John Adams, 26 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
This day I am happy in the News of your safe arrival at Corruna by a vessel arrived at Newbury port in 60 days from thence. I cannot be sufficiently thankfull for this agreable intelligence, or for the short, and I hope agreable voyage with which you were favourd. I suppose you will proceed from thence by land and flatter myself that a few weeks will bring me the agreable tidings of your...
220Isaac Smith Sr. to John Adams, 26 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
Last Evening we had an Account from Newbury that a Vessell was Arrived there from Bilbao, but haveing stopt att Coronia, brings the Agreeable news of your having Arrived att that port after a very short passuage. I sent word to day to Mrs. Adams, and iff any letters should come to hand from Newbury, shall forward them. But as yet no letters are come, Occasiond by the badness of the roads. I...
221Abigail Adams to John Adams, 1 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
I had scarcly closed my packet to you when I received your Letters dated Ferrol and Corunna. I am happy indeed in your safe arrival and escape from the danger which threatned you. I feel glad that you have determined to proceed by land tho so tedious and expensive a journey. I grow more and more apprehensive of the dangers of the sea, tho I have really no Right to Quarrel with old Neptune,...
222John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 16 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
Make Latin, Explain Cicero Erasmus Appendix Peirce Phaedrus. Learn greek Racines greek Grammar Geography geometry fractions Writing Drawing As a young boy can not apply himself to all those Things and keep a remembrance of them all I should desire that you would let me know what of those I must begin upon at first. I am your Dutiful Son, RC ( Adams Papers
223John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 21 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
I yesterday asked Mr. Pechigny if he thought it would do brother Charles any good to begin upon Latin at present, he answered me, that on the contrary, that he thought that it would spoil his taste for it; That he must conjugate verbs about a month, and then he might begin upon Latin, he desired me to ask you if you thought his proposition good and if you should he would Set Brother Charles...
224Abigail Adams to John Adams, 15 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
By Mr. Guile who is bound to Amsterdam and from thence to France, I embrace this opportunity of writing to you; and inquiring after your welfare. Mr. Guile was the Bearer from Mrs. Dana who received them, of the first Letters I received from you. I wish he may be the safe conveyer of mine to you. I have written to you various times since your absence, but have never had one direct conveyance...
225Richard Cranch to John Adams, 26 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have this Moment heard of an Oportunity of writing a line to you by Coll. Tyler of this Town who sets out this Day from hence and is going in a Vessel bound to France from New London. I would in the first Place (to fore-close Anxiety) inform you that your Wife and Children, your Mother, Brother &c. are well. Mr. Partridge is return’d from Congress last Week—brings no News of importance....
226Abigail Adams to John Adams, 1 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
Last week arrived at Boston the Marquis de la Fayette to the universal joy of all who know the Merit and Worth of that Nobleman. He was received with the ringing of Bells, fireing of cannon, bon fires &. He was so kind as to forward my Letters immediately, but his haste to set of for Philadelphia deprived me of the Honour of a visit from him at Braintree which I had hoped for, and but just...
227Richard Cranch to John Adams, 9 June 1780 (Adams Papers)
The Bearer Mr. John Leverett has just now inform’d me that he is bound to Holland and intends to wait upon you at Paris before he returns. I gladly embrace the Oportunity of writing a Line to you by him. I am again chosen by the Town of Braintree to represent them in the Genl. Court which is the reason of my being here as the Court is now sitting in this Capital. We have been certified by a...
228Abigail Adams to John Adams, 13 June 1780 (Adams Papers)
The Palles which I thought had saild a fortnight ago, still lies at Newbury Port, and gives me the opportunity of acquainting you with the death of a Sister in Law, who I followed to the grave a week ago, leaving behind a Babe about 5 days old, and a distressd family of children, by which loss your Brother is bereved of an Excellent wife and his children a most kind and affectionate Mother. I...
229Abigail Adams to John Adams, 5 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of April 6th reachd me to day per favour Mr. Williams, and is the only one I have had the pleasure of receiving since the arrival of the Marquiss. I wish you would be so particular in yours as to notice any you may receive from me, for to this day I am at a loss to know whether you have yet received a line. Mrs. D an a told me that Mr. D—a had mentiond hearing twice from her. I...
230Abigail Adams to John Adams, 16 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
I had just retired to my Chamber and taken up my pen to congratulate you upon the arrival of the Fleet of our Allies at Newport, when I was call’d down to receive the most agreable of presents—Letters from my dearest Friend—one Bearing date March 28 by Mr. Izard and one of May 3d, taken out of the post office, but to what port they arrived first I know not. They could not be those by the...
231Abigail Adams to John Adams, 24 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
Your affectionate Letter by the Count de Noailles reachd me but yesterday, together with your present by Col. Fleury which was very nice and Good. Should you send any thing of the kind in the same way, be so good as to let it be blew, white or red. Silk Gloves or mittins, black or white lace, Muslin or a Bandano hankerchief, and even a few yard of Ribbon might be conveyed in the same manner. I...
232Cotton Tufts to John Adams, 25 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
My Letter of the 1st. of May last gave You some Account of the Proceedings of the Convention, the Business of which has been since compleated, the Constitution agreed upon And in September We shall proceed to the Choice of Governor, Lt. Governor, Senators, &c. On the last Wednesday of October the first General Court is to be held. Had a Negtive on the Governor and his Appointment of the...
233Enclosure No. 1: Weather Journal, 1779–1780 (Adams Papers)
The Autumn of 1779 was the most pleasant and agreable for its Fertility and the Mildness of the Air that has been remembered, scarce any Rain had fallen from the Month of August to November, the frequent Rains that fell in the Summer had sufficiently moistned the Earth, but little Rain afterwards was necessary as the Air was temperate between the Extremes of Summer Heat and Cold. The Winter...
234Enclosure No. 2: Account of the Dark Day in May 1780 (Adams Papers)
May 19. It thunderd early this Morning and raind about 7 or 8. About 9 a Darkness came on gradually encreasing at 11. I could neither read nor write without a Candle which soon became necessary for Family Business and continued untill past 3 P.M. A Heavy black Cloud hung at the Westward and Northward, a Thin Vapour Smoak or Fog rising up now and then and almost covering it at Times streaming...
235John Thaxter to John Adams, 7 August 1780 (Adams Papers)
Since Mr. Appleton left Us, the inclosed Letters came to hand with a packet of Newspapers as late as the middle of May. The Letter signed Portia came in the State that You will receive it in; it was under a Cover superscribed by I. Smith Esqr. In the Letter were two bills of Exchange on the Minister at this Court, one of eighteen dollars and the other of sixty, which Mr. D ana will present to...
236Isaac Smith Sr. to John Adams, 21 August 1780 (Adams Papers)
I received your favor of the 16 March sometime Ago. The fleet and Army are still att Rd. Island by the arrival of Admiral Graves the british are superior. There intention Against Rd. Island seems to be laid aside. The french fleet and Spanish were att the Cape about 20 days Ago. We were in hopes they were bound to Jamaica. Several privateers belonging to Salem, Cape Ann And Newbury have made a...
237Abigail Adams to John Adams, 23 August 1780 (Adams Papers)
I could not omit so favourable an opportunity as the present of writing you a line by Mr. Warren who is upon his travells, and tis not unlikely may take France in his way. I know the welfare of your family so essential to your happiness, that I would improve every means of assureing you of it, and of communicating to you the pleasure I have had in receiving every Letter you have written since...
238John Thaxter to John Adams, 2 September 1780 (Adams Papers)
By yesterday’s post from Nantes Mr. Austin recieved a Letter from Mr. Williams, informing him that a french Vessel had just arrived there from Philadelphia, the Captain of which reports that Kniphausen had been repulsed in the Jerseys—that besides the killed and wounded, there were seven hundred prisoners taken, which he saw in Philadelphia—that the Militia on this occasion behaved with great...
239Abigail Adams to John Adams, 3 September 1780 (Adams Papers)
By a Vessel of my unkles bound to Bilboa I write you a few lines, and commit them to the care of our Friends Gardoqui to whom I have written for a few small Articles, and desired them to draw upon you for pay, but the demand will not amount to more than 20 dollors I think. Tho I have been so unfortunate as to have my Trunk left in France, and the Alliance arrive safe here without it, to the no...
240John Thaxter to John Adams, 4 September 1780 (Adams Papers)
I was this day honoured with your favour of the 30th. of last Month. I cannot give a fuller answer to your question respecting President Laurens, than the following Extract from Mr. Jay’s Letter to Mr. Dana, dated at Madrid the 19th. of August. “As to Col. Laurens, I have heard nothing of him except as follows. Captain Bryan of the Schooner Peggy arrived at Cadiz the 18th of July in forty nine...