1John Quincy Adams to Catherine Nuth Johnson, 7 February 1798 (Adams Papers)
Your very obliging favour, written at Stromness, found its way to London, only a few days before our departure from it, and reached us in the midst of our preparations for the voyage and Journey then before us; the occasion then of much anxiety, and since, the cause of much distress as my dear wife has no doubt before this related to you.— In the hurry and constant avocations of that time, I...
2Abigail Adams to Catherine Nuth Johnson, 2 March 1798 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday the secretary of state received Letters from mr Adams at Berlin dated Nov’ br 10 th & 17 th in which he says that he left Hamburgh on the 2d and reachd Berlin on the 7 th. he had an interveiw with the Minister. the King was informd of his arrival, and desired the Minister to express to him the extreem regreet he felt at not being able to give him Audience, as his dangerous illness...
3Abigail Adams to Catherine Nuth Johnson, 4 May 1798 (Adams Papers)
I received two kind Letters from you since I had the pleasure of writing to you. I regreet that both you, and your Family have experienced so much ill Health Since you arrived in this Country. I feel for you as a stranger; and wish you were near enough to me, that I might have it in my power, to return to you, and your Family, Some portion of the kindness and Hospitality which I experienced...
4Abigail Adams to Catherine Nuth Johnson, 20 May 1798 (Adams Papers)
I received a few days past, Your obliging favour of May 7 th , inclosing the Letters of my sons, and one from the God Mother of Mrs Adams, which contains a pleasing and agreable picture of the mutual regard, and affection of our Children. Mr Adams never writes me, but he expresses the satisfaction which he derives from his connection long may they live in the full enjoyment of those domestick...
5Abigail Adams to Catherine Nuth Johnson, 9 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
I received on Saturday the 7 th your Letter of June 4 th , inclosing those from, our Children, and I was more gratified to find you had at Length received Letters, than if they had been for me. Mrs Adams’s account of herself, was more full and satisfactory than any which I had previously received I think she cannot be again; even in that Country so dissagreably Situated as she was. I am...
6Abigail Adams to Catherine Nuth Johnson, 26 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
I received your Letter of June 20th with one for mrs Adams which I shall forward in a few day’s. I am Sorry to learn that your Health & spirits are depressed. I know well that want of Health mars every other enjoyment. You must Call Reason & Philosophy to your Aid, nor let the untoward occurrences of Life too much depress you. “Man wants but little here below, nor want that little long” are...
7Abigail Adams to Catherine Nuth Johnson, 8 July 1798 (Adams Papers)
I received your Letter of July 4 th. I was indeed so allarmd at the beginning of it, as scarcly to have power or fortitude to proceed. I thought the next line was to anounce to me the death of one, or other of our Children. happily that was not the case tho the affair which gave rise to your Letters is very destressing to me I thank God that it did not prove a fatal one. I know the candid and...
I hope the enclosed letter from my dear Louisa, will be more fortunate in its passage than those which she wrote you from Hamburg, and upon her recovery from illness after her arrival here. Several of our Letters have failed and it gives us much pain to find that those which we wrote to you, were particularly among the unsuccessful number.— I hope however that even before this you have the...
9John Quincy Adams to Catherine Nuth Johnson, 28 May 1799 (Adams Papers)
I received some time ago your favour of 29 January which I did not immediately answer, from an apprehension that a letter from me without one at the same time from my Louisa, or at least without some satisfactory information concerning the state of her health would give you more concern than pleasure— She was then unwell, and a few days after, met again with a misfortune which had already...
10Abigail Adams to Catherine Nuth Johnson, 19 January 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have the Satisfaction of inclosing to You a Letter from our dear Daughter at Berlin, received Yesterday by my son Thomas, and the additional pleasure of assureing You of her confirmed State of Health. I have not any Letter myself, but mr T B Adams has one from his Brother of october 17th, which contains this agreable information, as well, as that of his own recovery. our pleasure upon this...
11Abigail Adams to Catherine Nuth Johnson, 13 March 1800 (Adams Papers)
I received Your Letter with those inclosed from Berlin. I thank You for the entertainment which they have afforded me. those for Berlin arrived at a very fortunate time. I gave them with Some, which I had written, to the Prussian Consul who is returning immediatly to Berlin and who promissed to deliver them himself— I have delayed sooner replying to your Letter, that I Might have it in my...
12Abigail Adams to Catherine Nuth Johnson, 18 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
you judged right My Dear Madam, I do most sincerely rejoice in your prosperity and returning happiness, which to my frequent Sorrow, I saw often overshadowd by an anxious and distressed mind during your late visit; it was a silent unobtruding grief which renderd it the more affecting; nor were the gratefull feelings of Your Heart less intresting, upon an occasion which gave more pleasure to...
13Abigail Adams to Catherine Nuth Johnson, 20 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have been determined for Several weeks to write to You, but one avocation after an other, has calld of my attention and prevented me. I was seizd with a voilent fever soon after my return, and confined to my bed during the absence of the President. he found me upon his return confined to my Chamber, and unable to leave it for some time.— Since my recovery I have enjoyd better Health, and...
14John Quincy Adams to Catherine Nuth Johnson, 18 April 1801 (Adams Papers)
As Nancy has vindicated her privilege of giving you the first notice that you were a Grandmamma, I presume I have no occasion to scruple at letting you know that last Sunday the 12 th: inst t: at half-past three o’clock afternoon, our dear Louisa gave you another grandson— To have been able to add that both she and her child have been ever since as well as the occasion could admit, would...
15Abigail Adams to Catherine Nuth Johnson, 8 May 1801 (Adams Papers)
It is now near three Months Since I left the city of Washington; in all which time I have not received a line from you; I do not mention this with the spirit of accusation, for I have been equally culpable; that I have written to you however, the letter which lies unsent, before me will testify; it is now of too old a date to make a journey of 500 miles; and I reassume my pen to inquire after...
16Abigail Adams to Catherine Nuth Johnson, 16 June 1801 (Adams Papers)
Last Evening we received Letters from Berlin of April the 14th with the agreable intelligenc of Mrs Adamss safe delivery upon the 12th of a son, tho She had been very ill & remaind so for three days. mr Adams writes, that she was then much better, and he hoped out of Danger— I congratulate You my dear Madam upon this Event I wrote to you last week. with an affectionate remembrance to all...
17Abigail Adams to Catherine Nuth Johnson, 20 May 1802 (Adams Papers)
My Sympathizing Heart has borne a part in your Sorrows. altho my Hand has been by Sickness prevented from assureing of you by my pen; how Sincerely I mourn with You and Your Family the recent dispensation of Heaven, which has taken from You the Husband of your youth; the Friend and protector of Your Maturer years, and the comforter of your declining days. The domestic virtues, were all his own...
18John Quincy Adams to Catherine Nuth Johnson, 4 July 1803 (Adams Papers)
I have the pleasure to inform you, that this morning at about 3. o’clock, my dear M rs: Adams presented me another fine boy, after having a very good time, and both are now as well as we can possibly expect— I was myself out at Quincy, spending Sunday I am, Dear Madam, faithfully your’s RC ( Adams Papers ); addressed: “M rs: C. Johnson / Washington.”; internal address: “M rs: C. Johnson /...
19From John Quincy Adams to Catherine Nuth Johnson, 18 August 1807 (Adams Papers)
I take the first moment of self-possession that I have to inform you that my dear wife at half-past eight this morning presented me a third son.—The labour which commenced about 2 O’Clock this morning was extremely severe, and the child and mother both suffered so much in the birth as to give us great concern—We had at first little hopes of the child’s life; but it is now and Mrs: Adams also...
20From John Quincy Adams to Catherine Nuth Johnson, 20 August 1807 (Adams Papers)
As the account I gave you the day before yesterday may occasion you some anxiety on my wife’s account, it gives me the most cordial pleasure now to inform you that she is as well as under the Circumstances could possibly be expected, and the infant remarkably hearty and Strong—My Sister Smith came in from Quincy the morning of the child’s birth and has been with Mrs: Adams constantly since. I...
21From Abigail Smith Adams to Catherine Nuth Johnson, 15 October 1809 (Adams Papers)
I requested judge Cranch, when he returnd to washington, to apologize to you; for my not replying sooner, to your obligeing favour of Septr 17th. and to give you the reason for it; which was a very bad finger upon my Right hand, which prevented my holding a pen. altho the cause is not wholy removed, I cannot deny myself the pleasure of incloseing to you a Letter from our daughter: written at...
22From Abigail Smith Adams to Catherine Nuth Johnson, November 1809 (Adams Papers)
upon my return from Boston where I passt a few days I found your very agreable Letter of october 28th for which accept my thanks. it afforded me much entertainment. the contrast between the Simplicity of Republicanism and the plain the, and then Manners, contrasted with the Stile of magnificence you describe affords ample scope for reflection, not that I consider it improper or unfit that the...
23From Abigail Smith Adams to Catherine Nuth Johnson, 19 December 1809 (Adams Papers)
Since I had the pleasure of writing to you, I have received further accounts from our Children, which I hasten to communicate to you, knowing from my own feelings, what a cordial for low spirits agreable news from a far Country is. The Letter from my Son is written at sea, and is a continuation of that which we before received from the Banks of Newfoundland. he writes, that after leaving the...
24From Abigail Smith Adams to Catherine Nuth Johnson, 23 February 1810 (Adams Papers)
I have been frozen up almost ever since I received your last kind Letter. such severe weather we have not experienced for many years. writing has been quite out of the question with me. To keep myself from quite congealing to a statue, I have kept close to the fire side, reading porters travelling sketches in Russia, and Sweeden. I could never have read them; feeling so much interested as at...
25From Abigail Smith Adams to Catherine Nuth Johnson, 4 May 1810 (Adams Papers)
I am indebted to you my dear Madam for three Letters. I have made two attempts before to acknowledge two of them; but was unable to accomplish my intention. The Spirit was willing, but alass the flesh so weak and feeble that my hand would not guide my pen. I have had a Severe Sickness, which has left me very low, and a slow fever continues to consume my strength and Spirits. When your Son in...
26From Abigail Smith Adams to Catherine Nuth Johnson, 30 May 1810 (Adams Papers)
upon my return from a visit to my Sister in Newhampshire, where I had been in pursuit of health; I found your obliging and interesting Letter of May 14th. I thank you for the communications, and embrace the opportunity offered, of writing to my Son, tho from my absence, I fear it may prove too late for the conveyance. if it should, you may return it, I begin to feel quite impatient for Letters...
27From Abigail Smith Adams to Catherine Nuth Johnson, 13 July 1810 (Adams Papers)
you will Smile my dear Madam when I tell you, that I began a Letter to you, wrote two pages, and was then call’d down to company, left it upon my table by the side of a window, and when I returnd to finish it, it had taken to itself wings and flown away, not a trace of it could I find pray have the faries borne it to you in its unfinished state as a punishment to me for having so long delayed...
28From Abigail Smith Adams to Catherine Nuth Johnson, 18 August 1810 (Adams Papers)
No further intelligence from our Children has yet reached us my Dear Madam, than a Letter from mr Gray to his Mother dated in March, in which he mentions that mr Adams has an inflamation in his Eyes,and had hurt one of his Legs. I have always had a fear for Eyes, one of which was threatned with a complaint which might call for Surgecal operation, the constant glare from ice and snow in so cold...
I was much rejoiced to receive your kind Letter of Sep’br 26th I began to be very anxious that I had not heard from you for a long time, I so often had experienced your punctuality. that I was apprehensive, that either You or Some of your Family were Sick. altho my anticipation was realizd, I rejoice that the cause was so far removed, as to enable you to write with so great a Share of Spirit...
The Horace arrived last week after a passage of 85 days—I hope she brought Letters for you. as I learn the captain was charged with dispatches for the President. I inquired if there was any thing for you; but could not find that there was, as vessels Saild at the same time for Baltimore. perhaps mrs Adams made use of that conveyance I have a Letter from her of 2d June, and one from him of the...
31From Abigail Smith Adams to Catherine Nuth Johnson, 29 December 1810 (Adams Papers)
I have to acknowledge the receipt of your favour of december 15th. and the pleasure of congratulating you, upon the safe arrival and safety of your son; Who I hope enjoys good health, pray tender him my regards, and assure him of my sincere wishes for his prosperity! and success in buisness. You have a double joy also in the return of Mrs Pope to your city. I hope she has not sufferd any...
32From Abigail Smith Adams to Catherine Nuth Johnson, 19 January 1811 (Adams Papers)
If the Sympathizing Tear’s of Friendship could assuage the agonizeing Bosom of my Friend; freely could I pour them there. I cannot Say how much I was shockd the last Evening at receiving a Letter from Louissa from Boston, informing me of the Sudden Death of your dear daughter Hellen O! my Friend this is indeed a trial. what can I Say, or how administer comfort? The circumstances attendent upon...
33From Abigail Smith Adams to Catherine Nuth Johnson, 6 March 1811 (Adams Papers)
The great quantity of snow upon the Ground has obstructed the travelling So much, that the post did not get in last week, and your Letter which Should have come by that Mail, did not arrive untill yesterday. The Nomination and appointment of mr Adams, had been announced in the public papers, and in Some private Letters, before I received yours— Supposing that his absence would be an...
34From Andrew Buchanan to Catherine Nuth Johnson, 13 March 1811 (Adams Papers)
I hasten to relieve the anxiety of our Friends in Washington by informing you that your Daughter Carolina gave birth to a Son this Morning about 10 OClock—All that I can say of him at present is that he is a fine, fat, plump Boy with excellent lungs— C. is doing charmingly her trial was about two doubtful hours before Doctor White’s arrival, and two real ones after— Yours Very Affectionately...
35From Abigail Smith Adams to Catherine Nuth Johnson, 30 March 1811 (Adams Papers)
The Letters you forwarded to me, for Saint Petersburgh, I had an opportunity of Sending immediatly through the Russian Consul. mr Gray has a vessel which will Sail Soon, for the North, by which I can Send Letters, if you please to forward any. would their be any impropriety in inquiring, either of the Secretary of State, or Navy; if any vessel is orderd to petersburgh to bring home mr Adams?...
36From Abigail Smith Adams to Catherine Nuth Johnson, 19 May 1811 (Adams Papers)
I received your favour dated at Baltimore of April 28th, with the Letter inclosed for Mrs Adams, which I had an opportunity of immediatly forwarding by a vessel which saild last week for St Petersburgh I find by Letters from my Son, that those Letters which have gone by way of France have had the most speedy conveyance, and I regret that I have not oftener made use of it, altho they may be...
37From Abigail Smith Adams to Catherine Nuth Johnson, 31 July 1811 (Adams Papers)
yours of July 21, I received by the last Mail I was just going to ask the cause of your long Silence, when your Letter arrived and fully explaind it to me. I regrret that it arose from so many painfull causes, but our Lot is a Checkerd one. I have had a Share of late my dear Sister, whose Life I despared when I wrote last to you, Still Survives, for some little time We flatterd ourselves that...
38From John Quincy Adams to Catherine Nuth Johnson, 12 August 1811 (Adams Papers)
It is but a few days since I received your favour of 1. March, though I had two months earlier learnt from Mr Hellen the heavy misfortune that had befallen him. I have deferred answering your letter untill this day, with the hope, which is that this moment realized, of announcing to you my Lousia’s deliverance— She has this day at seven in the Evening, after a severe labour of about twelve...
39From John Quincy Adams to Catherine Nuth Johnson, 24 August 1811 (Adams Papers)
I wrote you the letter of which a copy is enclosed on the very day of my dear wife’s confinement.—I sent it under cover to the Secretary of State, by Mr. Richard Willing who sailed in the Bengal for Philadelphia.—He has been gone only two or three days, so that the copy may perhaps reach you sooner than the original I ought in it to have acknowledged the receipt of your favour of 1. April,...
At last it is decided—it is as I conjectured in my last Letter to you, the Situation of Mrs Adams prevents their return to America this Season, and obliges mr Adams to decline his Appointment as Judge. I have received from him Several Letters of an old date Since I last wrote to you, but it was not untill yesterday that I received a Letter from my Grandson William Smith, of June 25th in which...