31From John Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 9 March 1807 (Adams Papers)
My Answer to Mrs Warrens Question Shall be as prompt and frank as hers can be to mine Napoleones Maker alone can tell all that he was made for, And it would take a Sheet of Paper for me to explain all that I think he was made for. But in general Napoleone was made I will not say made but permitted for a Cat with o’ nine tails, to inflict ten thousand Lashes on the back of Europe, as a divine...
32From Abigail Smith Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 9 March 1807 (Adams Papers)
To your kind and friendly Letter I fully designd an immediate replie, but a Severe attack of a rheumatick complaint in my Head has confined me to my Chamber for Several weeks and renderd me unable to hold a pen. tho recovering from it, my head Still feels crakd: Shatterd I am Sure it is—you will therefore pardon any inaccuracy I may commit. my Health which you so kindly inquire after, has been...
33From Thomas Jefferson to Mercy Otis Warren, 26 April 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his respectful compliments to Mrs. Warren & his thanks for the copy of her History of the American revolution which he recieved yesterday. his emploiments have not yet permitted him to enter on it’s reading; but he anticipates much pleasure from the perusal of a work which taking truth, both of fact and principle, for it’s general guide, will furnish in addition original...
34From Thomas Jefferson to Mercy Otis Warren, 8 February 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to mrs Warren & returns her the paper she had been pleased to inclose to him with his own subscription & that of the heads of departments except General Dearborne who had signed another paper. he learns with great satisfaction that mrs Warren’s attention has been so long turned to the events which have been passing. the last thirty years will furnish a...
35From John Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 30 August 1803 (Adams Papers)
I received, with much pleasure, late, the last evening your kind Letter of the 28th. of the month, and Should have answered it Sooner if it had come earlier to my hand We have been in great affliction in this Family for more than three months, on account of the dangerous illness of your Friend my Companion, on whose preservation all my hopes of Comfort in this World, Seem to be Suspended. An...
36Abigail Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 16 January 1803 (Adams Papers)
It was with much pleasure I recognized the Hand writing of an old Friend, tho only in the Signature of her name. it recall’d to mind those days of pleasureable intercourse, “when thought met thought,[”] and a happy union of sentiment endeard our Friendship, which neither time, or distance has effaced from my Bosom. I have sympathized with You, in sickness and in Sorrow, much oftner than my pen...
37Abigail Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 5 October 1799 (Adams Papers)
The pleasing Emotions excited by the sight of a Letter, in Your Hand writing, were similar to those we experience at Meeting long absent Friends doubly endeard to us, by the perils and Dangers through which they have past. I rejoice my dear Madam that you have recoverd so much Health, as to be able to assume your pen, and Such a portion of spirits, as to discover the same flow of soul which...
38Abigail Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 17 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
You and I, my dear Madam have trod together, through one Gloomy scene, of war, havock and desolation; and we have Seen our Country rise superiour to oppression, and Despotism and take its Rank among the Nations, presenting at this period, the only spectacle , of a Free Republic, which has not been Revolutionized, by the Gormandizing and insatiable thirst of that power, which like the...
39Abigail Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 25 April 1798 (Adams Papers)
I received your obliging favour of April 7 th on the 18 of this Month, for which accept my sincere thank— To hear of the Health, and Welfare, of old, and Esteemed Friends, gives pleasure to her, who sincerely rejoices, that the decline of Life, of all those, whom she highly values; is renderd agreeable by the enjoyment of Health, Peace, and Competance.— Blessing at all periods valuable but...
40Abigail Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 1 October 1797 (Adams Papers)
I acknowledg myself indebted to you for two kind Letters, both of which found me in circumstances of distress; the first which came to me before I went to Philadelphia, I fully intended to have replied to at the Time, but the many cares and avocations which at that time occupied my mind, preparitory to my going, and the peculiar melancholy circumstance of the Death of my Mother and Neice...
41Abigail Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 4 March 1797 (Adams Papers)
I received yesterday your obliging favour of Feb’ ry 27th. I have been so little a favorite of fortune, that I never once examined my Numbers by the News papers, or otherways, concluding that those who were equally interested would take proper care for me. as I had formd no expectations, I meet with no dissapointment, and am quite pleased that my adventure should be appropriated to the...
42From John Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 14 February 1791 (Adams Papers)
By the last post I received your letter of January 17 th , and was as much surprised at the information that my last letter to you arrived unsealed, as you could be at the receipt of it. It was most certainly no intention of mine that it should have gone unsealed; nor can I account for the fact. My conjecture is that the person, one of my sons who copied into my letterbook, either...
43From John Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 26 December 1790 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday I had the pleasure of receiving your favour of September the 24 th with an elegant copy of your poems dramatic and miscellaneous; for both which I pray you to accept my best thanks It is but a few days since we received three other copies addressed to me but without a letter or any other indication from whom or whence they came. As we were subscribers for the publication these might...
44From Thomas Jefferson to Mercy Warren, 25 November 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
On my return to this place I receive the honour of your letter of Sep. 23. together with the volume which accompanied it; for which be pleased to accept my grateful thanks. A multiplicity of business has as yet permitted me to dip but a little into it; but yet sufficiently to foresee that it will soothe some of my moments of rest from drudgery, and will add another illustrious name to the roll...
45From John Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 29 May 1789 (Adams Papers)
A little before my departure from Braintree I received your favour inclosing a letter from M rs Walker. last night I received that of the 7 th May There was no necessity of any apology for writing to me after so long a correspondence there has never been on my part any failure of friendship to M r Warren or yourself— you are very much mistaken in your opinion of my situation. I have neither...
46From John Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 2 March 1789 (Adams Papers)
Your friendly Letter of the third and twentieth of February, I did not receive till Saturday last. To your Friend, who has now been returned from N. York these five Weeks, I have delivered your inclosed Letter as desired.— She will acknowledge the Receipt of it, and transmit you the Compliments of her fellow Travellers.— our Correspondence has had a short Interruption, it is true, as all...
47From John Adams to Mercy Warren, 25 December 1787 (Adams Papers)
The Sack of Rome, has So much Merit in itself that for the honour of America, I Should wish to See it acted on the Stage in London before crouded Audiences. The Dedication of it does so much honour to me, that I should be proud to see it in print even if it could not be acted. I have shown it, in discreet confidence to Several good Judges, but least their opinion might not be Satisfactory I...
48Abigail Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 14 May 1787 (Adams Papers)
I have lately been reading Mrs Montague’s essays upon the Genious and writings of shakspear, and I am so well pleased with them; that I take the Liberty of presenting them to you. The Lady is still living, a widow, and possessd of an ample fortune, without any children, she has a Nephew who bears the same name and has lately been returnd a member to parliament. I should have wished to have...
49Abigail Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 24 May 1786 (Adams Papers)
The affliction under which you are now labouring has been protracted to a much longer period, than I feard when I first left America. It was then I Buried the Dear and amiable Youth, for whose loss your Maternal Bosom heaves the sad Sigh, and over whose urn, all who knew him must drop a tear of affectionate remembrance. Nor were the admonitions given in vain. The last visit which I made him, I...
50From John Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 24 May 1786 (Adams Papers)
I this day received your Favour of April 8 th , and Sincerely condole with you under the Loss of your amiable son. These Afflictions are the Lot of Humanity and so little of the System of which We are a Part is Submitted to our View, that as We never can discover the Reasons of them, they are left only to our Reflections and Submission. My Situation, would be eligible, to the Heighth of my...
51From John Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 12 December 1785 (Adams Papers)
I am much obliged to you for your Letter and refer you to General Warren for what respects your son.— You suppose my present situation to be eligible and I confess it.— I have it in my Power here to enjoy the Society of Persons of great Worth, and if I please of high Rank, and if our publick Affairs here went well, I should not desire a better situation. but they do not. A Lady, who was born...
52Abigail Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 10 May 1785 (Adams Papers)
I cannot let my son return to America without a few lines to you, nor will I doubt their being acceptable altho it is nine months since I left Home during all which time neither Mr. Adams or I have had the honour of receiving a line either from the General or your Ladyship, altho we have repeatedly written to you. Your Son who is resident in Lisbon and mine who has inhabited France have...
53From John Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 6 May 1785 (Adams Papers)
My Son would go home, very improperly without a Letter to M rs Warren, whose Virtues and Accomplishments his Father has so long admired. The Time is at length come in which the United States of America are to have a Minister at the Court of Great Britain. a time foretold by the Prophets and Seers, and Dreamers of Dreams but never, untill very lately Stedfastly believed by any to be so near at...
54John Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 13 December 1784 (Adams Papers)
Your Favour of the 1 st. of June, has not, I fear been answered. I have indeed been very happy ever Since I received it. I live here, on a kind of Pens Hill. It is a Village, remarkable for the Residence of Dauguesseau, Boileau, Molliere and Helvetius, and for nothing else. I choose it merely for my Health, as my Constitution is not able to Sustain, the nauseous Air of a great City. Amsterdam...
55Abigail Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 5 September 1784 (Adams Papers)
Although I have not yet written to you, be assured Madam, you have been the subject of some of my most pleasing thoughts: the sweet communion we have often had together, and the pleasant Hours I have past both at Milton, and Braintree I have not realized in Europe; I visit, and am visited; but not being able to converse in the language of the Country, I can only silently observe Manners and...
56Abigail Adams 2d to Mercy Otis Warren, 5 September 1784 (Adams Papers)
I should have availed myself, Madam, of your permission to write you, ere this, had an opportunity presented. I now have the pleasure to present myself to you from Auteuil, a few miles from Paris, where we are, and expect to reside some time. Mr. Charles is ere this, I hope, quite recovered from his indisposition, and that health smiles again through your habitation. I had the pleasure of...
57From John Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 10 September 1783 (Adams Papers)
It is but a very few days, Since I received your Letter of the 4. of May, which affored me, as your Letters always do, a delicious Entertainment. Your friendly Congratulations, on the Success of my feeble Efforts, are very agreable to me, and very obliging. You Say that I shall never retire, till weary Nature diminishes my Capacity of acting in dignified difficulty.— Give me leave to say, that...
58Abigail Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 12 February 1783 (Adams Papers)
Indeed my dear Madam my omiting writing to you by my son was not oweing to the abrupt manner of your closeing your Friendly Billet which was sufficiently apoligized for by the counsel you employed with all that Eloquence which ever distinguishes him in a female Cause—but to the sudden proposal of Master Charles who no sooner determined to visit Milton than he executed it—and as I had not time...
59From John Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 29 January 1783 (Adams Papers)
Your Favour of the 25 of October never reached me till to day, but it has given me great Pleasure as your Letters always do.— I was disappointed however in finding no Line from M r Warren except the Superscription of yours. I assure you, Madam, what I Said about certain Annals was no Sarcasm. I have the Utmost Veneration for them, although I never was honoured with a Sight of any of them. Let...
60Abigail Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 5 March 1781 (Adams Papers)
Your two sons did me the favour of calling upon me yesterday morning and Breakfasting with me. The bad roads prevented their lodgeing here the Night before as they kindly intended. I was very glad to see them, and would have had them remain with me till the Storm was over, but they were apprehensive of worse weather, and chose to go on. I feel for these young Gentlemen a particular affection,...