101Thomas Boylston Adams to William Smith Shaw, 30 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I enclose, as directed, under cover to you, the Summary statement of services rendered at an important & critical period of our Country’s affairs, by an intelligent, brave, & deserving Officer. I think it an hardship that such merit & such services are so soon obliterated from the recollection or so much out of the knowledge of Gentlemen now in Office, that a statement under the hand of the...
102From John Quincy Adams to William Smith Shaw, 26 November 1804 (Adams Papers)
I have received both your letters, and to supply the demand from Mr: Briesler, now enclose a check on the Branch Bank, for $45. In paying it I wish you to tell Mr: Briesler, that I hope to have no more charges of expence upon the farm, exceeding his estimates by more than double. As to the new assessment on the Middlesex Canal, they must wait for the payment of that, untill I come home—In...
103Abigail Adams to William Smith Shaw, 14 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
Altho I was much fatigued last Evening, I wrote a few lines to the President to let him know we were safely housed. the Roads were so bad, that the Mail tho two hours before us in the morning did not get in, untill half an hour after us, and there was not any mail from Philadelphia. we took colds all of us; I have a very Soar throat & Louissa a stiff neck— Susan this Morning complaind her...
104Thomas Boylston Adams to William Smith Shaw, 20 September 1801 (Adams Papers)
I have your letter of the 14 th: with a paper for which I thank you. M r: Reed, has written to you, in consequence of the information respecting the demur, about delivering his trunk, and contrary to my advice, has sent money to pay Bills, which he says he had already, once discharged. I never will recommend any of my friends to that vile house so help me, truth! Since my return, I have been...
105From John Quincy Adams to William Smith Shaw, 27 January 1805 (Adams Papers)
I have this morning received your favor of the 7th, and thank you for it; I should be glad to thank you more frequently than I have an opportunity to do for such favors. I cannot promise to write you often at much length, but I shall send you, as often as I can, documents which may be of use to you; and you will attribute to my continual occupations, from which I cannot now at least take upon...
106Thomas Boylston Adams to William Smith Shaw, 27 April 1801 (Adams Papers)
I have your letter of the 17 th: , which travelled, from Boston hither, in very agreeable company. I can readily conceive, the novelty of your situation in a lawyers office, joined to other novelties of quite as pleasant a nature, would tend to distract your thoughts, for some time. Without undertaking to advise you on the subject of your recent pursuit, I will barely say, that the Office of...
107From John Adams to William Smith Shaw, 17 March 1807 (Adams Papers)
I have advised Messrs. Perkins to print Mr. Cremeres Letter literatim. But it ought to be accompanied with explanatory Notes, E. G. “Narrowly bound” The Writer undoubtedly had in his mind the French phrase “Etroitement lié”—His meaning is “closely or intimately connected”.— “Trespass” Here the French word “Trepas”, which signifies death or decease, was no doubt in the writers mind.— “Carge”...
108Thomas Boylston Adams to William Smith Shaw, 22 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
I received your obliging & copious communication of the 13 th: and render thanks for the trouble you have taken to explain a subject, which had excited my curiosity & interested my feelings, but which, without your aid, I should have been unable to comprehend to my satisfaction. I think it necessary only to observe in reply, that I fully concur in the opinion of the rectitude, propriety &...
109John Quincy Adams to William Smith Shaw, 16 December 1803 (Adams Papers)
I received last evening with much pleasure your favour of the 5 th: inst t: — I had been so long without any intelligence from home that I began to be uneasy— And even now, I cannot but wish you had said something about the family at Quincy— I believe it is more than a month since I have heard from thence, at-all— I am anxious particularly to know the state of health of my dear mother. I am...
110From John Quincy Adams to William Smith Shaw, 6 November 1806 (Adams Papers)
We lost a basket with Caroline’s Clothes in it, from the Chaise as we were coming out of Boston this Evening—I will thank you to have the enclosed advertisement inserted in the Centinel on Saturday Morning—And call at Whitcomb’s, and request him to pay the reward offered, if the basket should be brought there; and charge it to me. Mrs: Adams has concluded to take Mr: Gulliver’s Apartments—I...
111From Abigail Smith Adams to William Smith Shaw, 26 February 1806 (Adams Papers)
I have found the account and inclose it to you. I wish you to inquire of our Tennant whether the House must be removed and at What price he would undertake to do it? whether any fence will be necessary and whether the place would not be benifitted by planting out a young orchard and a number of fruit trees. I think mr Tiel agreed that he would dig a new cellar & remove the house for 200...
112From Thomas Boylston Adams to William Smith Shaw, 10 February 1818 (Adams Papers)
I am informed that my Nephew G W. Adams is to take his examination on Friday next, and as Bondsmen are required by the College Government, I should be glad if you will join with me in the Obligation, as I know of no one whom I can ask with equal freedom. As it will be necessary to go to Cambridge to sign the Bond, I can call for you on Saturday next and give you a Seat with me, Should your...
113Abigail Adams to William Smith Shaw, 2 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have duly received all your Letters, and thank you for them. your last of May 20 came on the 30th. the answer to the address from the students, I presume they must have received. it was addrest to Your clasmate Welch, as one of the committe. it would have been jointly addrest; but mr Malcom had mislaid the Letter which accompanied it, and their Names could not be recollected in order— the...
114Abigail Adams to William Smith Shaw, 16 January 1799 (Adams Papers)
I received yesterday your Letter of Jan’ry 6th, with the News papers to the 7th Clapole excepted; which usually has the first debates, so that I got no debate later than I received on saturday of the 5th However inaccurate the Printers may report the debates in Philadelphia: is best known to those who deliver, and those who hear them. when curtaild, and retaild by our Printers they are...
115From John Adams to William Smith Shaw, 20 June 1821 (Adams Papers)
Dr Jarvis with great truth and propriety asserts that the Religion of the Indians, has not been scrutinized as it should be. Nor has the Religion of any other nation from Irah the Chaldean to the kingdom of Whidah & Ashantee been sufficiently investigated. Who knows any thing of the Religeon of the wild Negroes in Africa, but the infernal cruelty of their sacrifices? It is probable that the...
116John Quincy Adams to William Smith Shaw, 2 June 1804 (Adams Papers)
I enclose an order for $110. which I will thank you to present, and if accepted, receive the money— This together with the rent you have received of M r: Dexter, will pay the assessm t: due on my Bridge-Shares, and leave a Balance— I will thank you to pay the Assessm t: to M r: Foster, and take the rec t: — Please to send me word whether you have advertised the rooms in Whitcomb’s House and if...
117Abigail Adams to William Smith Shaw, 21 February 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have to acknowledge the receipt of three Letters from you since my last. your punctuality and attention deserve commendation; and claim a pardon for any inaccuracies of stile, or manner, which escape your pen. shall I tell you however what Thomas says? “this young man must aim at more accuracy of expression. he must not be slovenly I will take him to task.” you know his way, and I dare Say...
118From John Quincy Adams to William Smith Shaw, 7 April 1816 (Adams Papers)
During my present Residence in Europe, I have had the pleasure of receiving one Letter from you, dated the 4th. of April 1815. which was delivered to me, on my first arrival in this Country last Summer, by Mr N. A. Haven, of whom it was introductory. I have attributed to the multitude of your occupations my not having heard oftener from you directly, and it has been a satisfaction to me, under...
119From John Adams to William Smith Shaw, 13 March 1805 (Adams Papers)
“The catastrophe of Leyden is to me a most affecting event; a beautiful city where I resided with my children many months, and where I attended divine service on Sundays in the venerable temple where Mr. Robinson and his congregation worshiped for a dozen years before their pilgrimage to Plymouth. This very ancient and revered edifice is now, probably, a mass of ruins. The University of...
I have stolen a few moments, from the agreeable conversation, of your friends, Mr Ticknor and Mr Everett, to express to you, my thanks, for the elegant present, you were so kind, as to make me, while in Boston. It will enable me, to pass many pleasant hours; during the winder season, and also entertain my friends. For this, and many other instances of your kindness, accept the gratitude and...