1Abigail Adams to John Cranch, 7 March 1787 (Adams Papers)
your obliging Letter of November 7 th. came safe to hand, as well as a couple of Hares since Received, for which accept my acknowledgments: I was happy to find that the Books I sent were acceptable to you, tho they painted some of your Countrymen in very black coulours; and one cannot refrain from being affected by the disgraces brought upon their Country from the evil conduct of it’s Members,...
2Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 8 March 1787 (Adams Papers)
It was not untill yesterday that captain Callihan brought us the bundle containing Newspapers and some Letters, one from my Neice, but none from you tho you refer to a former one in that which I acknowledg’d the recept of by captain Barnard, the New york packet arrived in 18 days passage & mr Adams received Letters to the 10 of Feb ry & a Boston paper of the 5th by which we have an account of...
3Abigail Adams to Elizabeth Smith Shaw, 10 March 1787 (Adams Papers)
Tho I have already acknowledged all your Letters, I will not let captain Scoet sail without a few lines from me, I had not time to write you by Barnard, but Cushing had Letters for you I write now to inform you, that the more quarrelsome and turbulent you grow, the more anxious I am to be with you, not that I think it pleasent fishing in troubled waters, but because immagination paints higher...
4Abigail Adams to Cotton Tufts, 10 March 1787 (Adams Papers)
your Letters by Captain Callihan did not come to hand untill the 7 th ult. and I embrace the earliest opportunity of writing you. in yours you mention the account forwarded by you last fall, which was duly received, and I thought it had been acknowledged; I sometimes leave these matters in hopes mr Adams will notice them, but he is too much engaged in publick affairs, to attend at all, to his...
5Abigail Adams to Isaac Smith Sr., 12 March 1787 (Adams Papers)
I have sent by Captain Scott the Books you wrote for, and if there is any thing else in which I can serve either you or my cousins, I shall be happy to do it— it is with much pleasure I learn that my cousin W.S. is like to be so pleasingly connected, and with a family to whom both you, & my Late parent, were much attached by a long accquaintance, and established Friendship. Educated under...
6Abigail Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 15 March 1787 (Adams Papers)
I would not omit writing you, because you seem to think you have been agrieved. I do not recollect what I wrote you, but I have Some Idea, that it was an enumeration of the various accidents you had met with, and advising you to more care and attention in future. I had no occasion to chide you for want of application to your studies, because your uncles your Aunts & your Brothers had been...
7Abigail Adams to John Quincy Adams, 20 March 1787 (Adams Papers)
I have procured the Books for you, and Captain Folger not sailing quite so soon as I expected, I have sent them to mr Boylstones Store requesting him to send them for me. I think it would be worth while to inquire at the post office in Boston with regard to the other Books which were put into the Bag with the Letters, & must have gone to the post office, or have been taking out, before they...
8Mary Rutledge Smith to Abigail Adams, 12 April 1787 (Adams Papers)
I have the happiness to inform you that we are again settled, in Charleston, we had a Passage of seven weeks, it was as you may suppose, disagreeable, it blew a heavy gale for ten days, & the patience of every person on Board, was exhausted, except our little Boy, who is both, by Sea, & Land, an excellent traveller. When we left London, you intended a visit to Bath, I hope nothing happened to...
9Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 22 April and 20 May 1787 (Adams Papers)
Captain Cushing arriv’d last Monday after a tedious Passage It was so long since I receiv’d any Letters from you that I began to be very impatient. Cousin JQA had one in the winter but I have only heard of it. he forgot that I should want to see it & so did not bring it with him this vacancy your sons are now all of them with me. cousin JQA return’d last evening from an excurtion. I perswaided...
10John Brown Cutting to Abigail Adams, 25 April 1787 (Adams Papers)
It may perhaps afford you satisfaction to learn that M r Adams and his secretary pro tempore arrived at the Crown Inn within the ramparts of this naval arsenal last evening before eight, after a journey as pleasant as coud be expected considering the unverdant aspect of far the greater portion of the country through which we travel’d. To speak candidly (excepting the farm at Cobham) I never...
11Abigail Adams to Lucy Cranch, 26 April 1787 (Adams Papers)
I write you a few lines my dear Lucy to thank you for your kind Letter, and to inform you that I am a Grandmamma ! my Grandson be sure is a fine Boy, & I already feel as fond of him as if he was my own son, nay I can hardly persuade myself that he is not, especially as I have been sick for six weeks, I cannot however Nurse him so well as his mamma, who is already so fond of him, that I...
12William Stephens Smith to Abigail Adams Smith, 26 April 1787 (Adams Papers)
I dare say, my friend, when you receive this, you will think I have moved with great rapidity. There have but two things occurred on the road which are worth mentioning; the one is my having met Mr. Rucker; we stopped, jumped out of our carriages, I into the dust, and he out of it; he had a great coat on, and his beard he brought from Paris with him; I wonder how it passed the custom-house...
13Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 28 April 1787 (Adams Papers)
I have now to acknowledge your kind favour of April 7th by Captain Folger— I have already written to my Neices and informed them of the addition to my family— you will rejoice with me that an event which as a parent so nearly concernd me, is so happily over, and that the mother and Child are both finely. indeed I never saw a healthier Lad in my life. he has not even had those complaints...
14Abigail Adams to Cotton Tufts, 29 April 1787 (Adams Papers)
yours of Febry 6th did not reach me untill Folger had saild. I take the first opportunity to write you respecting the vermont land. I thought I had conversd with you upon it before I left America and related all the circumstances relative to it, you know I suppose that no person could hold more than one Right in their own Name. mr Adams’s Name stands upon the Grant as an original proprieter of...
15Abigail Adams to Elizabeth Smith Shaw, 2 May 1787 (Adams Papers)
mr Blodget is going passenger in Captain Callihan and has offerd to take a Letter to you, who are his great favorite. he will be able to tell you that he has seen my little Grandson who was, not the first, but the 2d of April Born. we had him brought down on purpose that mr Blodget might report to you, that he is a fine Boy. His Mamma is as well as persons usually are she dinned below the day...
16Abigail Adams to John Quincy Adams, 6 May 1787 (Adams Papers)
I would not omit writing you by captain Callihan, as your sister is unable to perform that office herself. I know you will be anxious to hear from us, and in particular from her. Learn then my dear son that you became an uncle on the 2d day of April & that your Nephew is as fine a Boy for a month old as ever I saw. he has the Brow of his Grandpappa & the Shape & form of his Father. This will...
17Abigail Adams to Richard Cranch, 10 May 1787 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed Sir I send you the Review of the defence of the American constitution, which if you please you may have published in the Boston papers, and an other pamphlet is inclosed; calld political Sketches, written by a mr Murry a young Gentleman from Maryland who is a student in the Temple. you will see that he has parts, and Genious, tho I think he has sometimes renderd his meaning obscure by...
18Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 11 May 1787 (Adams Papers)
Captain Callihans delay gives me an other opportunity of writing you, tho I have nothing material to add, but that I have pleasd my fancy in a peice of chintz which I have sent to my Neices. when I first came to this country near 3 years ago I bought one for mrs smith & an other for myself like it. it wore so well, washt so nice, & lookd so pretty; that I have been frequently seeking the same...
19Abigail 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...
20Elizabeth Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams, 20 May 1787 (Adams Papers)
Yours of July 19 th which either did, or was to have come in Callihan last Fall, I did not receive ’till the 6 th of March —where it had lain, or where Peabody got it from I cannot tell—but this I know, I am glad I have it, for it is a valuable acquisition to me, as rich, & precious Treasure, as all my dear Sisters Letters are— Your eldest Son made us a Visit of a few Days in March— He says he...
21Cotton Tufts to Abigail Adams, 21 May 1787 (Adams Papers)
I rec d. your several Letters of Jan y. 24. Feb y. 8 t & March the 10 th. by Cushing, Barnard & Scott who all arrived in the latter End of April. Before the Receipt of M r. Adams Letter I had purchased the Half of the House & Land occupied by Belcher at £70— although it appeared to me to be dear— yet as it stood connected with your Land and the other half of y r. Building would go to Ruin...
22Richard Cranch to John Adams, 24 May 1787 (Adams Papers)
I herewith send you the News-Papers by which you will see the state of our publick proceedings. Our most excellent Governor M r. Bowdoin is to be left out this Year—M r Hancock will doubtless succeed him. Strenuous efforts have been made at the present Election to get a Gen l. Court that will suit the minds of the Insurgents and their Friends—Many good Men, however, will be chosen into both...
23Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 27 May 1787 (Adams Papers)
I went to Boston yesterday & had the mortification to find my Letters did not go by Barnard or Davis although they had been on Board each of them. they got to town just as the vessels were sailing. Knox the Pilot took them as he was going on Board, & promiss’d to deliver them to the captain, but forgot it So after wearing them in His Pockit four or five days he return’d them as dirty as I...
24John Brown Cutting to Abigail Adams, 28 May 1787 (Adams Papers)
Agreably to the intimation in the note I had the pleasure to address you from the Inn —we reached Harwich the next morning by eight, where Cap t Flynn soon recognized his Excellency and congratulated himself on the prospect of once more conveying him to Holland. Yet he did not forget politely to regret that M rs Adams was now absent and cou’d not therefore join in “his triumph nor partake the...
25Abigail Adams to John Adams, 29 May 1787 (Adams Papers)
I received mr Cuttings Letter on Monday morning, and was glad to find you had stoped Short of Hardwick. I prognosticated from the wind on saturday that you made your passage by nine or ten on sunday morning. I commisirated your sickness, and that I might feelingly sympathize with you, used mr Hollis’s prescription yesterday morning, finding a return of some of my former complaints. the effect...
26Abigail Adams to William Stephens Smith, 30 May 1787 (Adams Papers)
I have written you only a few lines since your absence; and those conveyed to you rather an unpleasing account, but you will find my letter attended with so many others of a different complexion, that I hope it will not give you a moment’s uneasiness. Mrs. Smith is now very well, and sitting here at the table, making herself a mourning bonnet, for the Princess Carolina Wilhelmina, whom neither...
27John Adams to Abigail Adams, 1 June 1787 (Adams Papers)
We are lodged in our old Chamber at Amsterdam, and Sleep as soundly as if there were not a dozen houses plundered every night. The two nights before the last were very Seditious. last night was quiet, and the Precautions which Secured the Peace then, will be continued, so t[hat] all will be still.— dont be anxious for Us, nor believe half the Reports that will be circulated. Such Events are...
28John Adams to Abigail Adams, 2 June 1787 (Adams Papers)
I wrote you Yesterday, that I had executed the Contract and should return to England by the Packet of Wednesday the Sixth of June. But as the Money Lenders, whether to make a mere Compliment to me, whether to shew their Patriotism, or whether from simple Caprice, made it an original Condition that my Name should be Subscribed to all the obligations, as it was in the first loan, instead of...
29William Stephens Smith to Abigail Adams, 4 June 1787 (Adams Papers)
I have recived your agreable Letter of the 5 th. of may and am much obliged for it, at the same time I had the happiness of getting one from my dear Abby I ask your pardon Nabby you like best and when I am acquainted with what will give my friends pleasure— I shall alway’s attend even to the minutest particle—therefore to you Nabby is the word—Amelia to herself—my daughter for Sir—& for myself...
30William Stephens Smith to Abigail Adams Smith, 6 June 1787 (Adams Papers)
I was much pleased this morning by the receipt of yours of May 19th. Look at the dates—May 5th, Paris, and Blois, May 11th—the places are very distant, and it is impossible to write in a chariot going post. I have answered your mamma’s letter from this place; I have not gone through the necessary visits to the royal family, but they are nearly finished. I find everything here much more...
31Abigail Adams to John Adams, 7 June 1787 (Adams Papers)
I expected to have heard from you by the last post, but was dissapointed, only a few lines from Mr Cutting have come to hand since you left me. I wrote you on the 29 th of May, and inclosed two Letters respecting mr Barclay. Since that time a Letter from the Frenchs, has arrived, in which they inform you that Mr Barclay was liberated by applying to the Parliament of Bordeaux in virtue of his...
32Abigail Adams Smith to John Quincy Adams, 10 June 1787 (Adams Papers)
my Conscience really reprimands me for having so long omitted writing my Dear Brother, for several months past I must plead in excuse the want of Health, in December last we made an excursion to Bath and by going to Balls or Concerts every night for One week I cought such a Cold—as Confined me for a long time, and indeed I did not wholy recover till April. Mamma has already informed you of the...
33John Cranch to Abigail Adams, 13 June 1787 (Adams Papers)
I should have addressed your excellency sooner, but that my mind, which is the weakest —(or, as I had rather settle your excellency’s idea of it, the most delicate )—thing in the world, has been for sometime suspended between the contrary fears—of trespassing upon your more important attentions, on the one hand, or against the obligations of gratitude & decorum, on the other: The last has,...
34Cotton Tufts to John Adams, 13 June 1787 (Adams Papers)
In my Letter to M rs. Adams P r. Cap t. Scott, I mentioned to her, That M r. S. Q. was negociating for Borlands Place— it was then my Opinion that He would purchase it— Yesterday M r. Cranch informed me that he had learnt from M r. Borland that M r. S. Q. had given up the Matter—and that M r. B. is determined to make Sale of it as soon as he has settled with M r. T——r. I conclude therefore...
35John Cranch to Abigail Adams, [ca. 23 June 1787] (Adams Papers)
Substance of miss Palmer’s account of the University exhibition at Cambridge, the 10 th. of April: To J.C. “—— preceded by a band of Music, consisting of such of the pupils as had a taste for Music—among whom were John and Charles Adams and William Cranch: When the president and governors arrived, the exercises began in the following order: 1 st. Forensic dispute in english:—subject—’whether...
36Abigail Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 26 June 1787 (Adams Papers)
I have to congratulate you upon the safe arrival of your Little daughter, whom I have only a few moments ago received. She is in fine Health and a Lovely little girl I am sure from her countanance, but at present every thing is strange to her, & She was very loth to try New Friends for old. She was so much attachd to the Captain & he to her, that it was with no Small regreet that I Seperated...
37Abigail Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 27 June 1787 (Adams Papers)
I had the Honour of addressing you yesterday and informing you of the safe arrival of your daughter. She was but just come when I sent of my Letter by the post, & the poor little Girl was very unhappy being wholy left to strangers this however lasted only a few Hours, & miss is as contented to day as she was misirable yesterday. She is indeed a fine child. I have taken her out to day and...
38Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 29 June 1787 (Adams Papers)
I have sent one Letter on Board capt Cushing but it is so long since that unless I Write again you will not feel as if you had heard from me for a long time— Cousin JQA & Billy have been at home above a week. Cousin charles was here yesterday. he came to wait upon mrs Hilliard & Daughter— your Sons are all well We are busy prepairing for commencment for although we do so little by way of...
39John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 30 June 1787 (Adams Papers)
I am at length released from the multiplicity of business which has employ’d so much of my time, for the last eighteen months: during that period I had scarcely a leisure moment, and was forced to a degree of application, which has been injurious to my health. but as I am left at present free from every employment, I shall have time to recruit; and I shall also be able to give more frequent...
40Cotton Tufts to Abigail Adams, 30 June 1787 (Adams Papers)
I beg you to inform M rs. Smith, that I have forwarded to M r M c. Connell enclosed in a Letter to Miss Margaret Smith the Picture she requested me to send and have rece d Information f m. D r. Crosby of M r. M c. Connell’s having rec d. my Letter— By M
41Cotton Tufts to John Adams, 30 June 1787 (Adams Papers)
On conversing with M r. Parsons relative to Your Sons entring into the Study of the Law, I found him disposed to take him under his Instruction, and it being the Wish of your Son to live with him, I accordingly agreed with M r. Parsons on the Subject— After Commencement Vacation M r John will repair to Newbury Port— M r. Parsons’s Terms are £100— for Thrree Years exclusive of Board, the money...
42Abigail Adams to Cotton Tufts, 1 July 1787 (Adams Papers)
your two Letters of May 21 & 26 were yesterday deliverd. captain Scot has not yet got up. I hope by him to receive Letters from my other Friends. I have been not a little anxious that Barnard and Davis should arrive without a Letter either from Braintree or weymouth as this is to go by the packet, I will confine myself wholy to buisness and as mr Adams has written you respecting mr Borlands...
43Thomas Jefferson to Abigail Adams, 1 July 1787 (Adams Papers)
A thousand thanks to you, my dear Madam, for your kind attention to my little daughter. her distresses I am sure must have been troublesome to you: but I know your goodness will forgive her, & forgive me too for having brought them on you. Petit now comes for her. by this time she will have learned again to love the hand that feeds & comforts her, and have formed an attachment to you. she will...
44Abigail Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 6 July 1787 (Adams Papers)
If I had thought you would so soon have Sent for your dear little Girl, I should have been tempted to have kept her arrival here, from you a secret. I am really loth to part with her, and she last evening upon petit’s arrival, was thrown into all her former distresses, and bursting into Tears, told me it would be as hard to leave me, as it was her Aunt Epps. She has been so often deceived that...
When I wrote you last I did not know that petit had taken places in the Stage & paid for them. this being the case I have represented it to your little daughter & endeavourd to prevail with her to consent to going at the time appointed; She says if I must go I will, but I cannot help crying, so pray dont ask me too. I should have taken great pleasure in presenting her to you here, as you would...
46Thomas Jefferson to Abigail Adams, 10 July 1787 (Adams Papers)
This being the day on which, according to my calculation, my daughter would be crossing the channel, I had calculated the course from Dover to Calais and was watching the wind when your favour of the 6 th. was put into my hands. that of June 27. had been received four days ago. I perceived that that had happened which I had apprehended, that your goodness had so attached her to you that her...
47Abigail Adams to Mary Rutledge Smith, 14 July 1787 (Adams Papers)
I received your agreeable Letter with much pleasure: having only before heard of the arrival of the vessel in which you embarked. I can my dear Madam most Sincerely rejoice with you on the happiness of meeting kind Friends, and endearing Relatives, after the Seperation you experienced. I fancy my Lovely Carolina Eyes Sparking with a joy which adds fluency to her Tongue, whilst her more...
48Abigail Adams Smith to Lucy Cranch, 14 July 1787 (Adams Papers)
most readily my Dear Lucy do I acknowledge the tittle of friend with which you address me—and am very happy to have preserved your esteem thus far in Life— I wish it had been my fate to have enjoyed the Society of my friends more than it has,— three years have now elapsed since I parted with every female friend that I had acquired from my earliest infancy to the age of Nineteen; and I have not...
49Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 16 July 1787 (Adams Papers)
If as the poet says, expectation makes the blessing sweet, your last Letter was peculiarly so, as you conjectured I was not a little anxious that neither Captain Barnard or Davis brought me a line. I was apprehensive that Something was the matter some imminent danger threatning some Friend, of which my Friends chose not to inform me untill thir fate was decided. I sent on board the Ship, the...
50Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 16 July 1787 (Adams Papers)
My dear sister will I am sure excuse me if I send her now but a short Letter—when she is inform’d that there is but one day between this & commencment & that I have but just hear’d that cap t. Folger will sail this week It is true we are doing but little but it makes us more work than Ten such entertainments at home. every thing is dress’d here, & to be cut cold at cambridge except Green Peas....