1261Abigail Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 19 October 1785 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Fox a young Gentleman from Philadelphia who came recommended by Dr. Rush to Mr. Adams, will have the Honour of delivering you this Letter. We requested him to call upon Mr. Stockdale for your papers &c. Mr. Adams is unwell, and will not be able to write you by this opportunity. I am to acquaint you Sir that Dr. Price has transacted the buisness respecting Mr. Hudon. The Money is paid, but...
1262Abigail Adams to John Quincy Adams, 12 May 1791 (Adams Papers)
we have reachd this place this day, but whether I shall be able to travel tomorrow is uncertain, for I am so unfortunate as to be attackd with the intermitting fever last night was so very ill that I had not the least expectation of being able to proceed on my journey, but to day I am better. I was taken last fryday in N york with it, and prevented sitting out as we intended on monday I am now...
1263Abigail Adams to Martha Washington, 25 June 1791 (Adams Papers)
I was honourd with your much esteemed favour on the 15 of this month. the state of my Health, Body and mind suffering most Severely with repeated attacks of an intermitting fever will plead my apoligy for omitting to thank you at an earlyer date for your Friendly Letter. I have been so weakned & debilitated as to be unable to walk alone, and my Nerves so affected as to oblige me to seclude...
1264Abigail Adams to William Smith, 15 April 1798 (Adams Papers)
I inclose a Letter to you for Mrs Black. as there is but one post a week for Quincy, it may probably lay in the office Some days, and it is of conquence that she should have it immediatly as it respects an orphan Baby which I have under my care here. you will be so kind if mr Black should not be in Town when you receive it to send it to mr Lambs with a request to them to send it to Quincy...
1265Abigail Adams to Thomas Welsh, 6 June 1797 (Adams Papers)
We yesterday received the Centinal. I thank you for the vindication which I found in it. I well knew how watchfull the Faction would be to lie in wait & catch at every Straw, misrepresenting and abusing every measure which was intended to secure us from foreign influence. the President waited a reasonable time for the answer of the House to his Speech, before he made his nominations to the...
1266Abigail Adams to John Adams, 29 August 1776 (Adams Papers)
I have this moment sent of a Letter to the post office when Mr. Bass came in to let me know that he has got ready sooner than he expected and will now sit of. I cannot let him go without a line to tell you I feel a new flow of spirits, hope to be home and well to receive you. Write me by every Post, and let me know when you expect to sit out. My Best wishes attend you ever yours, RC ( Adams...
1267Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 22 April 1798 (Adams Papers)
By the post of yesterday I received yours of April 15 as the post will now go more frequently I hope you will get Letters more regularly It was very unfortunate for Mrs Porter, to have mr sole taken sick the very day after he came, and the more so because she is now encumberd with more buisness. I have written the dr. that I think it would be best to through two Chambers into one and to have...
1268Abigail Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 25 October 1804 (Adams Papers)
Sickness for three weeks past, has prevented my acknowledging the receipt of Your Letter of Sep’ br th 11 th. when I first addrest You I little thought of entering into a correspondence with you upon political topicks. I will not however regreet it, since it has led to Some Elucidations and brought on some explanations, which place in a more favourable light occurrences which had wounded me....
1269Abigail Adams to Royall Tyler, 5 September 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have scarcly toucht a pen since I came from London nor have I written a single Letter to a Friend untill now. Mr. Tracy is here for a few days only. Part of that time I am under engagements abroad and part of it obliged to see company at home, which prevents my writing to severel of my Friends—who must not be dissapointed if several vessels arrive from London without Letters for it is only...
1270Abigail Adams to Abigail Adams Smith, 11 August 1786 (Adams Papers)
Your papa and I wrote you from Harwich the morning we embarked for Helvoet, the wind was very fair, and we went on board at 3 o clock, a vessel very commodious for passengers, clean, and the least offensive of any that I was ever in. But the passage is a most disagreeable one, and after being on board 18 or 20, hours one might as well proceed on a voyage to America, for I do not think I...
1271Abigail Adams to John Adams, 16 July 1775 (Adams Papers)
I have this afternoon had the pleasure of receiving your Letter by your Friends Mr. Collins and Kaighn and an English Gentle man his Name I do not remember. It was next to seeing my dearest Friend. Mr. Collins could tell me more perticuliarly about you and your Health than I have been able to hear since you left me. I rejoice in his account of your better Health, and of your spirits, tho he...
1272Abigail Adams to Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody, 18 July 1800 (Adams Papers)
I received Your kind Letter by mr Peabody and thank You most Sincerely for it; I did not know that You had been so very sick untill I saw a Letter from You to mrs Foster: You my Dear sister certainly take too great a charge upon you; I know that You delight in doing good, and communicating, that as our good Father used to Say, he had rather be worn out, than rust out; but your constitution is...
1273Abigail Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 23 April 1795 (Adams Papers)
I did not receive any Letters from You when your Brother wrote last to me the 11 of Nov br . I suppose you felt quite out of Sorts at not having received any Letters from Your Friends here. you must not however judge that your Friends have not written to you this is the fourth Letter which I have written, and your Friend Quincy I trust has written to you. I know he has received several Letters...
1274Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 15 April 1785 (Adams Papers)
There is a Young Gentleman going from Passy in the pacquet for New York. His Name is Chaumont, the Son of a Gentleman whose Name is well known in America. I have met him once or twice at Dr. Franklin: whose next Neighbour he is, and he has once dinned here: the Ministers have intrusted him with publick dispatches of importance to Congress. He appears a modest agreeable Young Gentleman. He...
1275Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 27 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
The reflections which this morning have occupied my mind previous to taking my pen, have been of a solemn & melancholy Nature. wherefore o Lord art thou thus contending with they People, that one prop after an other is taken from them? the Sudden death of dr Belknap has filld my Heart with Sorrow— following so soon after dr Clark, and I presume from the account in the paper, in as sudden a...
1276Abigail Adams to John Thaxter, 21 July 1783 (Adams Papers)
I almost fear I shall be too late for the Vessel which is about to sail for England. I did not know of it untill a few days ago, and then I was absent from Home. I have been to Cambridge to visit my sister Dana. Mr. Storers and Mr. Allen Otis’es sons took their degree and made a large commencment as it is call’d. From both these families I received invitations. Emelia was urgent with me to go,...
1277Abigail Adams to John Quincy Adams, 23 January 1796 (Adams Papers)
I came to Town yesterday, and find a vessel going to sail for England tomorrow, and I would not let the opportunity pass without writing You a few Lines. I have not received a line from You since the 31 of July. Your Father sent me by the last post from Philadelphia Your Letter no 12 dated the 30 of August which he received two Days before. that Letter further unfolds the Secreet Machinations...
1278Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 22 December 1799 (Adams Papers)
I wrote to You the Day after we received the account of the Death of Gen’ ll Washington. this Event, so important to our Country at this period, will be universally deplored no Man ever lived, more deservedly beloved and Respected. the praise and I May say addulation which followed his administration for Several years, never made him forget that he was a Man, subject to the weakness and...
1279Abigail Adams to John Adams, 25 April 1782 (Adams Papers)
Whenever any difficulty encompasses me, my first thought is how would my Friend conduct in this affair. I wish to know what his mind would be and then to act agreable to it. If I err in my conduct it is an error of the judgement, not of the Heart. Wholy deprived of your aid, and even advice in domestick occurences, my next resource is in that of my Friends. My present difficulty arrises from...
1280Abigail Adams to John Lowell, 27 December 1779 (Adams Papers)
Your very polite reply to my Letter demands my acknowledgment. If I should find myself embarressed at any time I shall not fail making use of your kindly offerd Friendship and assistance. If Sir it will be of any service to you to receive the Hard Money giving me the current exchange it is at your Service if you will please to signify it, tho it will be but small sums that I shall exchange at...
1281Abigail Adams to William Cranch, 27 December 1799 (Adams Papers)
Mr shaw will be the Bearer of this to you it is so long Since You saw him, that I presume he will want an introduction to your recollection, tho not to your Heart. he will bring to your Remembrance those agreable Days spent under his Fathers Roof, whilst expectations, and anticipation Presented you prospects of future felicity and enjoyment, before you had seen or experienced the checkerd Lot,...
1282Abigail Adams to John Adams, 16 March 1776 (Adams Papers)
I last Evening Received yours of March 8. I must confess my self in fault that I did not write sooner to you, but I was in continual Expectation that some important event would take place and give me a subject worth writing upon. Before this reaches you I immagine you will have Received two Letters from me; the last I closed this Day week; since that time there has been some movements amongst...
1283Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 20 April 1792 (Adams Papers)
I have just received your kind Letter as I was about to write to you to inform you that we proposed Sitting out on our journey on monday or twesday next. the weather has been so rainy that I have not been able to ride So often as I wishd in order to prepare myself for my journey, and how I shall stand it, I know not. this everlasting fever still hangs about me & prevents my intire recovery. a...
1284To Benjamin Franklin from Abigail Adams, 3 December 1784 (Franklin Papers)
AL : University of Pennsylvania Library Mrs Adams’es Respectfull Compliments to Dr Franklin, is much obliged to him for the oil he was so kind as to send her, and is very sorry that his indisposition deprived her of the Honour of his company to dinner. Mrs Adams takes the Liberty of recommending a Sedan Chair, by which the inconvenience arrising from a Carriage might be avoided— Addressed: To...
1285Abigail Adams to John Adams, 10 December 1798 (Adams Papers)
I received yours of 28 th of Nov’ br I have not faild of writing to you once a week ever since you left me, and I believe twice, tho the Letters may not reach you, so regularly as I wish. I have kept you informd of our Movements. mr Porter & French compleated last night getting Home the whole of our Timber, Boards, and shingles of the Boards there are more than 30 thousand, and near 50...
1286Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 15 September 1787 (Adams Papers)
When I wrote you last, I was just going to Set out on a journey to the West of England. I promised you to visit mr Cranchs Friends and Relatives, this we did as I shall relate to you we were absent a month, and made a Tour of about six hundred Miles. the first place we made any stay at, was Winchester. There was formerly an Earl of Winchester, by the Name of Saar de Quincy. he was created Earl...
1287Abigail Adams to John Adams, 23 April 1797 (Adams Papers)
I think through all the most trying conflicts of my life, I have been called to pass through them separated from the personal condolence and support of my bosom friend, I have been taught to look for support and aid from superior power than man: there is a state of mind, when affliction dries up the source of tears, and almost bids the swollen heart burst. I have left one of those distressing...
1288Abigail Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 16 May 1801 (Adams Papers)
I have received two Letters from you since I wrote to you, one 26 April, the last 2 d May—inclosing one from Your Brother, which I now return, without knowing what advice to give You; upon the Subject of it; in what productive property you can place his interest, excepting those he has prohibited you from, I know not, the funds of this State Stand well, and are to be had with great difficulty,...
1289Abigail Adams to John Adams, 25 April 1796 (Adams Papers)
And why should I feel so anxious, so heavy at My Heart, and So depressed in My spirits? I cannot help it, aya, theres the Rub. if I could help the matter, seeing the subject in the light in which I view it, I would instantly comply, and vote the necessary measures for preserving the Plighted Faith, the honour reputation and the Peace of My Country. these were my Sleepless reflections, as I lay...
1290Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 3 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
I think You have been exercised in Deeds of Charity to that poor forlorn Man who would once have said, is thy Servant a Dog, that he should become a living prey to worms, or what is worse? He is a most striking instance of Indolence; and having no stimulous to action! none of those tender endearing ties of wife, child, sister, or Brother.— Indolence created first an apathy—and apathy crept on...