1301John Thaxter to Abigail Adams, 3 April 1778 (Adams Papers)
I have just heard a piece of news from Mr. Lovell, which he says comes in a packet lately arrived at New York from England, and which has been published in the New York and Philadelphia papers. It is as follows viz. that the reduction of Genl. Burgoyne has convinced the minister of his weakness in America, and roused the spirit of the nation—that one hundred thousand men are to be raised and...
1302John Callahan to Abigail Adams, 8 April 1788 (Adams Papers)
I had the Honor of Receiving a letter from you yesterday— we have had such—Boysterous weather Since your Departur from here that for 6 day s. I had the Pilot on board, & he Would not ventur to moove the Ship: but She is Now in the Downes & will be at Portsmouth the first fair wind: I Shall proceed from here so as to get to Portsmouth before the Ship so that my Departure from here will in some...
1303Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 27 June 1797 (Adams Papers)
I never visit or pass your house but I think of that beautiful & simple Song in the Spectator The Rose Bush under your window is as full of bloom & fragrance I suppose as formerly. your Garden florishes & your Clover Field is delightful—but Should I tell you how the view of them affected me before I recieved your last Letter you might call me romantick— I pass’d them yesterday—went into your...
1304Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 17 October 1792 (Adams Papers)
I have not received any letters from you, for a considerable time, and I experience the same kind of apprehensions for the cause which you have often expressed concerning me. I fear least the cold weather which is fast approaching should affect your health, by bringing a return of your Rheumatism. I have repeatedly written concerning engaging lodgings for my Father before all the places are...
1305Elizabeth Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams, 31 October 1795 (Adams Papers)
I have this moment heard Mr & Mrs Black is in town, & going out again immediately but I would not let slip this favourable opportunity of sending directly to you— I have omited writing before, as I wished to see Mr Peabody, & inquire of him if he knew of any place worth purchasing— I have [in]quired of Mr Tucker, & others but can find none, not any, but what will want constant repairs, & not...
1306John Adams to Abigail Smith, 1762 – 1763 (Adams Papers)
I have taken the best Advice, on the subject of your Billet, and I find you cannot compell me to pay unless I refuse Marriage; which I never did, and never will, but on the Contrary am ready to have you at any Time. I hope Jemima’s Conscience has as good a Memory as mine. RC ( Adams Papers ); addressed: “To Miss —— Weymouth.” There is no clue to the precise date of this note, the “Billet” to...
1307William Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams, 30 December 1798 (Adams Papers)
’Though I have been writing a very long letter, to my wild, random, laughter loving Walter and have made it very late, still I want to thank my aunt for her letter of Dec 20 th received yesterday morning, before I sleep. Logan is chosen Representative for this State by a very large majority. It so happened that the day, L took his seat, a new carpet was placed on the floor of the house. The...
1308John Adams to Abigail Adams, 28 February 1779 (Adams Papers)
This Day, the Chevalier D’Arcy, his Lady, and Niece, Mr. Le Roy and his Lady, dined here. These Gentlemen are two Members of the Academy of Sciences. Now are you the wiser for all this? Shall I enter into a Description of their Dress—of the Compliments—of the Turns of Conversation—and all that. For mercy Sake dont exact of me that I should be a Boy, till I am Seventy Years of Age. This Kind of...
1309Elizabeth Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams, 17 November 1787 (Adams Papers)
Friend, after Friend is severed from my Heart—I have lost many near, & dear Relatives, as well as kind Benefactors, since you left America. I know you will be much affected by hearing of the Death of our worthy & much lamented Uncle Smith.— You my Sister knew how bright the humane & christian Virtues shone in his Life, & cannot wonder if the Land mourns when the godly Man ceaseth, & so...
1310Cotton Tufts to Abigail Adams, 23 February 1791 (Adams Papers)
Yours of the 6 th. Ins t. came safe to hand and just timely enough to counter order the Shipping of your Hams & Beef— Some time past you requested me to purchase you a Ticket, I defered it till the Time of drawing was not far distant, & giving the Preference to our semiannual Lottery have purchased for you N o. 15533— Will there be an advantage in becoming a Sharer in the national Bank, if so...
1311Cotton Tufts to Abigail Adams, 18 December 1787 (Adams Papers)
The System of Government reported by the late Continental Convention has afforded much Matter for Pens and Tongues— The Friends & opposers of it are distinguished by the Party names of Federalists & Antifederalists— These Names I suspect will continue as long as Whig & Tory— which of the Parties will carry their Point, is difficult to say— Many of the Advocates for the Constitution are...
1312The Chevalier de Ronnay to Abigail Adams, with a Contemporary Translation, 26 April 1783 (Adams Papers)
Ce jour tant désiré est à la fin arrivé, la paix a couronné vos voeux et les nôtres. Ce fléau si dangereux s’est donc éloigné pour longtems de votre hémisphère, et peut être pour peu du nôtre. Ce même jour qui a fait mes délices, m’a en même tems fait perdre tout espoir de revoir L’Amérique continentale: mon devoir, mon intérêt personnel et l’amitié que je porte à un pere, à une mere et à des...
1313John Adams to Abigail Adams, 13 August 1776 (Adams Papers)
Geography is a Branch of Knowledge, not only very usefull, but absolutely necessary, to every Person of public Character whether in civil or military Life. Nay it is equally necessary for Merchants. America is our Country, and therefore a minute Knowledge of its Geography, is most important to Us and our Children. The Board of War are making a Collection of all the Maps of America, and of...
1314John Adams to Abigail Adams, 19 May 1794 (Adams Papers)
It is a fortnight to day Since I had a Letter from you but it Seems to me a month— I cannot blame you for one of yours is worth four of mine. Three Bills, for laying Taxes are yet unfinished and there is little Reason to hope that they can be finished this Week, perhaps not before the End of the next. I cannot see much room to hope to get away before the first of June. a tedious Seven Months...
1315John Adams to Abigail Adams, 22 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
Your humble Servant has lately grown much into Fashion in this Country. Nobody scarcely of so much importance, as Mynheer Adams. Every City, and Province rings with De Heer Adams &c. &c. &c. and if I were to judge of things here as We do in other Countries, I should think I was going to be received, at the Hague in awfull Pomp in a few Weeks. But I never can foresee one hour what will happen....
1316John Adams to Abigail Adams, 22 January 1783 (Adams Papers)
The Preliminaries of Peace and an Armistice, were Signed at Versailles on the 20 and on the 21. We went again to pay our Respects to the King and Royal Family upon the Occasion. Mr. Jay was gone upon a little Excursion to Normandie and Mr. Laurens was gone to Bath, both for their health, so that the signature was made by Mr. Franklin and me. I want an Excursion too. Thus drops the Curtain upon...
1317Cotton Tufts to Abigail Adams, 6 February 1787 (Adams Papers)
Col. Jacob Davis not long since called upon me for the Payment of one of the Lots of Land in Vermont State which you recd. a Deed of and was not paid for, by his Brother Ebenr Davis whom he empowered for that Purpose. I accordingly paid it, he requested Interest from the Time the Deed was given, I did not conceive myself authorized to allow it as You did not give me any directions relative to...
1318Elizabeth 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...
1319John Adams to Abigail Adams, 11 June 1775 (Adams Papers)
I have been this Morning to hear Mr. Duffil, a Preacher in this City whose Principles, Prayers and Sermons more nearly resemble those of our New England Clergy than any that I have heard. His Discourse was a kind of Exposition on the thirty fifth Chapter of Isaiah.—America was the Wilderness and the Solitary Place, and he said it would be glad, rejoice, and blossom as the Rose. He laboured to...
1320John Adams to Abigail Adams, 3 March 1797 (Adams Papers)
The Congress have passed the Law allowing 14,000 d to purchase furniture. The State Legislature have done nothing about their new House: so that I shall take the House the President is in, at a 1000 £ or 2700 dollars rent, nothing better can be done. M r Jefferson arrived Yesterday and came to visit me in the Evening. Tomorrow will be a worse day than the 8th. of Feb. was. We are to take the...
1321Jean de Neufville & Son to Abigail Adams, 25 July 1781 (Adams Papers)
We regret that your Ladyship’s letter of 25th April should not have Came to our hands soon enough to have prevented our executing your orders p er the Ship Juno, in Lieu of that of our good friends Messrs. N. & T. Tracey (the Minerva) as a freight of 12 ½ PCt. is an object worth saving. But they were Shipped as early as the 25 May, and we were in hopes you would have received them before now,...
1322John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 17 October 1790 (Adams Papers)
I am I believe more than one Letter in your debt; but I feel if possible less inclination than ever to write to my friends as I have no good news to tell them about myself, and very little about any one else. I have now the advantage of being three hundred miles distant from every member of the family; alone in the world, without a soul to share the few joys I have, or to participate in my...
1323James Lovell to Abigail Adams, 10 August 1781 (Adams Papers)
I am persuaded to believe that I have acknowledged the Receipt of your Favor of June 30th tho it is not so endorsed. I think I recollect to have discovered my Unwillingness to persuade my dearest Friend, my affectionate, faithful, generous-spirited Maria to put herself in the Way of a Meeting with a Stranger prejudiced against me and perhaps prompt to utter her Prejudices. I am sure such Ideas...
1324John Adams to Abigail Adams, 5 April 1794 (Adams Papers)
The Weather is cooler And the Minds of Men are calmed by the inclosed Communication. But A Sourd Party will plunge Us if possible. The most uncandid; the most hypocritical Part is acted to take Us in.— Protestations against War by those who are pushing every Thing that can force War, are not the Worst. The southern Men have Art enough to dupe northern ones to bring forwards measures, that the...
1325William Cranch to Abigail Adams, 14 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have just closed a letter to the Pres t. on the subject of my Bro r. Greenleaf.— I do not know whether I have not said too much, but if I had not been restrained by a sense of Propriety I should have beg’d & pleaded that he might have some appointment or other. I consider him as a man of uncommon abilities and attention to Business, & he has no means of exercising his Talents at present,...
1326Mary Smith Gray Otis to Abigail Adams, 11 April 1799 (Adams Papers)
It was with much pleasure I yesterday received yours of 1 st instant, as it was an assurence of your better health, I hope the return of Spring will bring to you renewed health & strength, but it is needful for your friends to caution you, as you partake too much of the spirit of Martha & are apt to be too careful & encumbared about many things. The Presidents being at home, will bring more...
1327Isaac Smith Sr. to Abigail Adams, 17 June 1778 (Adams Papers)
I send Josiah Spear, the bearer, to inform you of the Agreeable news of the Arrival of Mr. Adams in France. A London News paper taken Out of a prize from London which Arrived Yesterday att Salem says that Mr. Adams Arrived in France the 15th. Aprill, and brings Accounts that the Commissioners saild Ten days before this Vessell.—I congratulate you on so Agreeable intelligence and are Yr. Uncle...
1328Daniel Roberdeau to Abigail Adams, 19 January 1778 (Adams Papers)
So much good sense, prudence, conjugal affection and patriotism blended in your favor to me was a juster portraiture of the dear deceased, the subject of your compassionate sympathy, than I have met with, since the awful Catastrophe from which you borrow a comparison, to illustrate your feelings by anticipating a separation from your worthy partner my friend. Nor be offended at the comparison,...
1329John Adams to Abigail Adams, 9 July 1783 (Adams Papers)
Not a Line from you since December. Congress has not cutt off our heads for making Peace, and that is some Comfort. I am not in health and dont expect to be, untill I can get home. But when will this be? We are all at as great Uncertainty as We have been these six Months. Yet one should think it cannot be long before the Treaty is finished. You must not cease to write to me, untill I arrive at...
1330John Adams to Abigail Adams, 13 February 1778 (Adams Papers)
I had not been 20 Minutes in this House before I had the Happiness to see Captn. Tucker, and a Midshipman, coming for me. We shall be soon on Board, and may God prosper our Voyage, in every Stage of it, as much as at the Beginning, and send to you, my dear Children and all my Friends, the choisest of Blessings—so Wishes and prays yours, with an Ardour, that neither Absence, nor any other Event...