1231John Adams to Abigail Adams, 5 December 1794 (Adams Papers)
I returned, this Day the Visit of the ci-devant Duke De Liancourt. He is a Sensible Man. He is a Cousin German of the late Duke de la Rochefaucault, and inherited his Estate and for what I know his Titles: but neither the Estate nor Titles are of any Use at present.— What will be, the future destiny of these high Personages is a curious Problem. I endeavoured to impress upon him as I have upon...
1232John Adams to Abigail Adams, 27 February 1779 (Adams Papers)
The Weather continuing fine, I went to Saint Denis a little Village about Eight Miles from this Place, where are the Tombs of all the Kings and Queens. The statues of all lie in state in Marble. The Church which is called the Royal Church of Saint Denis is magnificent, and there is an Appartment in a Chamber where the Crowns and many other Curiosities are preserved. It is curious to see such a...
1233Cotton Tufts to Abigail Adams, 31 October 1787 (Adams Papers)
In my last Letter to M r. Adams I inform’d Him of the Death of our beloved Uncle Smith— had we enjoyed his Life much longer, it would have been greatly desireable—but Heaven was kind in continuing that rich Blessing for so long a Time we have the utmost Assurance that He is happy tho’ We have lost one Source of our temporal Felicity— His Virtues may we imitate and with him share in a better...
1234Elizabeth Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams, 14 February 1791 (Adams Papers)
By my Sister I have been informed of your Sickness, & of the distressed State of your Family, which gave me great, pain, & anxiety— more espicially for my Cousin Thomas, who when your Letter was written was still in great distress— I am sure I know how to pity a sick Family—For in the course of the last year, there were four months, when we were severely exercised with Sickness, & the voice of...
1235John Adams to Abigail Adams, 12 May 1794 (Adams Papers)
The Weather is here very hot and dry, which renders our daily Service in Congress more irksome and occasions Some Anxiety for the health of the People and more for the growth of the fruits. I hope you have more rain and less warmth. The House of R. have a Committee out, to prepare a Bill for the Ways and means: how Soon they will report I know not: how long it will take the Members after the...
1236John Adams to Abigail Adams, 21 July 1777 (Adams Papers)
I have long sought for a compleat History of the Revolution in the low Countries, when the Seven united Provinces seperated from the Kingdom of Spain, but without the Success that I wished, untill a few days ago. Sir William Temples Account is elegant and entertaining, but very brief and general. Puffendorfs, I have not yet seen. Grotius’s I have seen, and read in Part, but it is in Latin, and...
1237John Adams to Abigail Adams, 12 August 1776 (Adams Papers)
Mr. A. setts off, to day, if the Rain should not prevent him, with Coll. Whipple of Portsmouth: a Brother of the celebrated Miss Hannah Whipple, a sensible and worthy Man. By him I have sent you two Bundles of Letters, which I hope you will be carefull of. I thought I should not be likely to find a safer opportunity. By them, you will see that my private Correspondence alone, is Business...
1238John Adams to Abigail Adams, 17 May 1794 (Adams Papers)
The long continuance of the session, and the uncommon heat and drought of the Weather have made this, to me an unpleasant Spring. And to increase my Mortification, I have this Week received no Letter from you. I have not for Several months before, failed to receive a delicious Letter worth a dozen of mine, once a Week. Well! Boston comes on! M r Morton is now to be its Leader! How changed in...
1239Abigail Adams Smith to Abigail Adams, 21 August 1801 (Adams Papers)
Our city has sustained a very great loss in the death of Dr. Bailey. As health officer, he was obliged to reside upon Staten Island, to which the sick from the vessels that came in were carried, and the hospitals have been crowded all summer with the Irish emigrants; he has taken the fever from them, and was only ill four or five days. He has not left his equal as a physician most certainly in...
1240Benjamin Waterhouse to Abigail Adams, 7 January 1783 (Adams Papers)
For above a fortnight past I have been meditating a visit to Braintree but some unlucky occurrence or other turned up and disappointed me, and now I am certain I shall not be able within a fortnight, owing to some matters in agitation which will not be finished before that time, and are of such a nature that made me wish to see you at this time more particularly. I must explain myself by...
1241John Adams to Abigail Adams, 28 July 1777 (Adams Papers)
Never in my whole Life, was my Heart affected with such Emotions and Sensations, as were this Day occasioned by your Letters of the 9. 10. 11. and 16 of July. Devoutly do I return Thanks to God, whose kind Providence has preserved to me a Life that is dearer to me than all other Blessings in this World. Most fervently do I pray, for a Continuance of his Goodness in the compleat Restoration of...
1242Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody to Abigail Adams, 19 May 1796 (Adams Papers)
I rejoice that the important question in Congress has terminated so happily, & that the Vice president has again returned in safety to his dear expecting Family. Warring passions often agitate the human mind. When Mr Peabody returned, last Tuesday Evening from Newbury & brought me the Papers, announceing the arrival of the Vice president at his seat, I participated in your happy meeting, &...
1243From Thomas Jefferson to Abigail Adams, 4 October 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
By Mr. Cutting I have an opportunity of acknoleging the receipt of your favor of Sep. 10th. inclosing one for my daughter Polly. When she received it she flushed, she whitened, she flushed again, and in short was in such a flutter of joy that she could scarcely open it. This faithful history of her sensibility towards you must stand in lieu of her thanks which she has promised me she will...
1244John Adams to Abigail Adams, 10 June 1775 (Adams Papers)
Dr. Church returns to Day, and with smarting Eyes, I must write a few Lines to you. I never had in my Life, such severe Duty to do, and was never worse qualified to do it. My Eyes depress my Spirits and my Health is quite infirm. Yet I keep about and attend Congress very constantly. I wish I could write freely to you my Dear, but I can not. The Scene before me, is complicated enough. It...
1245Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 14 August 1785 (Adams Papers)
I have just Sent away one Letter and shall now begin another to be ready for the next ship. Cousin John is not yet arriv’d. I hear of him upon the road. He has not quite done his duty. He should have written to one of his uncles at least as soon as he came on Shore, but I will not chide him without hearing his reasons, I feel inclin’d to be very partial to him. I have just heard that cousin...
1246Enclosure: Account between Thomas Jefferson and Abigail Adams, 9 August 1786 (Adams Papers)
s 1785. June 2. To paid Petit 173. 8 Aug. 17. To pd mr Garvey’s bill 96. 16. 6 Nov. To cash by Colo. Smith. 768. 0. 0 1786. Jan. 5. To pd Barin for Suortout de dessert & figures &c 264.
1247Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 21 May 1793 (Adams Papers)
Your kind letter of the 12 has reached me, in complyance with M r Brieslers request I enclose the Receipt of M rs Lynch. She was in much need of the little assistance, and expressed gratitude for the receipt of it. The Porter also shall be attended to; I have been so fortunate as yet to have received no warning from the owner of our Store— The furniture still rests there and I have some hope...
1248John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 16 March 1799 (Adams Papers)
After a long period of deep concern, and anxiety, on account of your health, I feel myself in some measure relieved by the receipt of your kind letter of 2 nd Dec r: , which I received the day before yesterday; that which you mention as having written me on the 15 th of November, has not yet come to hand. At the same time, I received from M r Pitcairn at Hamburg a line, mentioning, that the...
1249John Adams to Abigail Adams, 3 April 1794 (Adams Papers)
The Post of the day brought me, your kind Letter of 26. Ult. The more I am charmed with your Bravery and Activity in farming the more I am mortified that my Letters in Answer to yours are so insignificant and insipid. I must leave all your Agriculture to your Judgment and the Advice of your Assitants. I sent you more Grass seeds with the Furniture, which I hope has arrived before now. M r...
1250Elizabeth Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams, 11 June 1793 (Adams Papers)
I am extremely sorry to hear, that you have had another attack of your ague, since Cousin Betsy left you— I hope you are in the use of every probable means for your releif, & restoration to Health— That glow in your features, which I have contemplated with so much satisfaction, I should be grieved to see injured by Sickness, or any disaster— But you my dear Sister have a double Security—Nature...
1251John Adams to Abigail Adams, 2 June 1777 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday, I took a ride to a beautifull Hill eleven Miles out of Town. It is called Rush Hill. An old Lady Mrs. Morris and her Daughter Mrs. Stamper, live here with a Couple of servants, and one little Boy, who is left with the Family for Education. It is the most airy, and at the same Time the most rural Place in Pensilvania. The good Lady has about sixty Acres of Land, two fine orchards, an...
1252Thomas Welsh to Abigail Adams, 13 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
I enclose a Duplicate of a Letter which I have lately received from M r Adams. I have not heared of an House which would agree with the discription but if I had the Course of Exchange is so much against Holland, that I should not think of doing any thing at present. M r Smith has informed me of the Proposal for my Son Thomas to go to Berlin to relieve M r Thomas B Adams. as M r Smith has...
1253John Thaxter to Abigail Adams, 10 June 1778 (Adams Papers)
Your favor of the 21st. and 26th. of May came to hand yesterday. I was exceedingly shocked at the first mention of the capture of the Boston, till I had read the latter part of the paragraph, which related the circumstances. From those circumstances, Madam, I must beg leave to observe, no facts can be collected, and they leave it at least a very dubious, if not an improbable event. She sailed...
1254John Thaxter to Abigail Adams, 16 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
On the ninth of this Month We all happily arrived here, and with Hearts replete with Gratitude. Our Journey was long, cold, tedious and painful to an extream degree. After being fortunately delivered from a crazy and leaky Ship, We had conjectured our future Enterprises would be less irksome. Our Consolation and Triumph upon the Occasion terminated almost as soon as they existed. We had hardly...
1255Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 30 November – 2 December 1788 (Adams Papers)
I have been waiting above a week hopeing to have a Letter from my dear sister informing me of her safe arrival at newyork Before I can write said I—I think I must have a Letter— you left us so unwell that I have been anxious about you ever since— I have a thousand times wish’d you back again your Letter to Mr Adams dated at Hartford has in some measure reliev’d me— I hope before this that you...
1256From Thomas Jefferson to Abigail Adams, 21 June 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received duly the honor of your letter, and am now to return you thanks for your condescension in having taken the first step for settling a correspondence which I so much desired; for I now consider it as settled and proceed accordingly. I have always found it best to remove obstacles first. I will do so therefore in the present case by telling you that I consider your boasts of the...
1257Elbridge Gerry to Abigail Adams, 18 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
By Mr. Bourne, who was here last Week, I informed You that our commercial Affairs were arranged, that Mr. Adams Mr. Franklin and Mr. Jefferson were to carry on the Negotiations, that three Years would probably be requisite to compleat the Business, and that you may embark for Europe, without Delay, as there is not a possibility of any Departure from the Measures adopted by Congress. Mr....
1258John Adams to Abigail Adams, 22 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
I Yesterday received your Letters by Captain Cazneau and Mr. De Neufville received his, and will accordingly send the Things you wrote for. You had better pursue this Method and write to Mr. Guardoqui at Bilboa and Mr. De Neufville here for what you want and desire them to draw upon me for the Pay. I will answer the Letters of my Friends as soon as I can, but I have so many Things upon me at...
1259John Adams to Abigail Adams, 7 March 1777 (Adams Papers)
The President who is just arrived from Baltimore, came in a few Minutes ago and delivered me, yours of Feb. 8, which he found at Susquehannah River, on its way to Baltimore. It gives me great Pleasure to find that you have received so many Letters from me, altho I knew they contained nothing of importance. I feel a Restraint in Writing like that which you complain of, and am determined to go...
1260Thomas Welsh to Abigail Adams, 24 May 1786 (Adams Papers)
I have wrote your Daughter on the Head of common Intelligence. As to political I hardly know how to give a summary of that; as relates to this Commonwealth however I think that altho the Legislature of the last Year deliberated long they at last concluded like the Representatives of a wise People and have taxed smartly. This will operate in a few Years to reduce their public Debt greatly. The...