1401Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 17 May 1799 (Adams Papers)
I left Philadelphia the 9 th: inst t: and after passing a few days very pleasantly at Baltimore in the society of M r: Johnsons family & that of Mrs: John Smith, came to this place where I had the satisfaction to meet M r: Cranch in tolerable health & spirits. I have been received & treated with uncommon hospitality and politeness in both these places, from the first characters, and as no...
1402John Adams to Abigail Adams, 28 December 1788 (Adams Papers)
I have rec d your favours of the 3 and 13 th and have opened that to our Son, who has been absent from me these 3 Weeks at Newbury, where I Suppose he is very well.— I am as anxious as you are about your coming home. There are but two Ways. 1. if Coll Smith can bring you and his Family with you, will be the more obliging and agreable. 2. if he cannot, I must send your eldest son, with a Coach...
1403Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody to Abigail Adams, 6 October 1797 (Adams Papers)
Since my last my time has been cheifly occupied, in attending to those services, which were due to our late worthy Nephew— Though we had been in daily expectation of his dissolution, & every breath he drew seemed as if I heard a voice, saying “Sister Spirit come away” yet it was a sudden stroke at the close— As he called the watcher who set by him, Aunt, I suppose he took her for me ; & I was...
1404John Adams to Abigail Adams, 16 March 1777 (Adams Papers)
The Spring advances, very rapidly, and all Nature will soon be cloathed in her gayest Robes. The green Grass, which begins to shew itself, here, and there, revives in my longing Imagination my little Farm, and its dear Inhabitants. What Pleasures has not this vile War deprived me of? I want to wander, in my Meadows, to ramble over my Mountains, and to sit in Solitude, or with her who has all...
1405Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 24 November 1799 (Adams Papers)
I receiv’d your kind Letter of the 15 th yesterday & am glad to find you able to receive so much company tho I fear it will not be advantagous to your nightly repose I was in Boston last week & find the appointment of the Envoys is growing to be a very popular action Some extracts from Joel Barlows Letters has made the appointment appear an act of wisdom— these extracts were in John Russels...
1406John Adams to Abigail Adams, 3 December 1775 (Adams Papers)
Yours of Novr. 12 is before me. I wish I could write you every day, more than once, for although I have a Number of Friends, and many Relations who are very dear to me, yet all the Friendship I have for others is far unequal to that which warms my Heart for you. The most agreable Time that I spend here is in writing to you, and conversing with you when I am alone. But the Calls of Friendship...
1407John Adams to Abigail Adams, 11 December 1779 (Adams Papers)
We have had an Escape again: but are arrived safely in Spain. As the Frigate will probably not get from this place these two Months, I must go by Land to Paris, which I suppose is a Journey of between three and four hundred Leagues. That part of it, which is in Spain is very mountainous. No Post—bad Roads—bad Taverns and very dear. We must ride Mules, Horses not being to be had. I must get...
1408William Smith to Abigail Adams, 2 December 1799 (Adams Papers)
Your favors of the 19 th & 22 d I have rec d. no Vessell at present is up for Phila a. If any one offers, I will endeavour to procure the articles you wish to be sent. it is now so late in the season, that I do not expect I shall forward them— I am much oblig’d to you for the papers you inclos’d, such Mad Men, as Cooper can never do any injury to the Government their mad zeal, defeats their...
1409John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 28 December 1785 (Adams Papers)
It is mortifying to me, to be again obliged to offer an excuse, for not having written more frequently to you, and to my father however conscious I may be, of its having been out of my Power, yet the Idea, of your suspecting me of neglecting you, worries me very much. But it has been and still is absolutely necessary for me, to apply myself with unremitting attention to my studies. About ten...
1410Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 20 December 1800 (Adams Papers)
Our Supreme Court being in session, has occupied my time so much as to prevent answering your favors of the 10 th: & 13 th: inst ts: I have seen M rs: Kirkham since I got your letter, and given her the fresh order; she will prepare the articles & I shall send them as soon as I can. I have applied to two Coachmakers to ascertain what you desired; neither of them have any ready made coachees on...
1411Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 20 October 1794 (Adams Papers)
A Passage of 28 days, landed me & my fellow Passengers safe on the shore of England— Our desire was to be put on shore at Dover, but the tide being against us from the place where the Vessel came to, we were obliged to put in to Deal; a little swindling village a few miles above Dover; here we landed, & asif we had been made of Gold or something more precious, the people were crouding round us...
1412Abigail Adams Smith to Abigail Adams, 11 March 1791 (Adams Papers)
I received your Letter of March 7 th my Dear Mamma and was very happy to find you so far recovered as to be able to use again your Pen —altho I doubt not you find yourself very feeble and fear it may be long before you regain your strength; yet I hope by care and attention you will soon subdue this fever which afflicts you— I confess that I am but a novice in Phisick—yet I cannot reconcile it...
1413John Adams to Abigail Adams, 11 October 1776 (Adams Papers)
I suppose your Ladyship has been in the Twitters, for some Time past, because you have not received a Letter by every Post, as you used to do.—But I am coming to make my Apology in Person. I, Yesterday asked and obtained Leave of Absence. It will take me till next Monday, to get ready, to finish off a few Remnants of public Business, and to put my private Affairs in proper Order. On the 14th....
1414William Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams, 25 November 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have a thousand things to tell you and but a few minutes to write. We arrived in this city fryday Evening about seven Oclock— the first week we had most beautiful weather & found the roads most excellent— the President said he never knew them to be so good. but the snow made them as bad as they were before good. We had not been in the house but a few minutes before his Excellency the Govenor...
1415John Adams to Abigail Adams, 27 December 1778 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Greenleaf is about to set off, towards Nantes and from thence to Boston. Last Night, I walked to Paris and saw the Illumination for the Birth of the Princess Maria Theresa Charlotta, Fille du Roi—Splendid indeed. My little Friend who was with me will write you a Description of it. The Military school, the Hospital of Invalids and the Palace of Bourbon, were beautiful and sublime indeed, as...
1416John Adams to Abigail Adams, 30 September 1777 (Adams Papers)
It is now a long Time, since I had an Opportunity of writing to you, and I fear you have suffered unnecessary Anxiety on my Account.—In the Morning of the 19th. Inst., the Congress were allarmed, in their Beds, by a Letter from Mr. Hamilton one of General Washingtons Family, that the Enemy were in Possession of the Ford over the Schuylkill, and the Boats, so that they had it in their Power to...
1417Lucy Cranch to Abigail Adams, 18 August 1787 (Adams Papers)
I wrote you a few hasty lines, from Boston the Monday before Commencement, inclosing two news-papers which Mr Jinks was to carry, I went to Cambridge that afternoon: I heard in the evening that Calahan had arrived. I never hear of a ships arrival from London, but what I feel a mixture of pain with the pleasure, ’till we have got the Letters— I always tremble when they are opened. I never felt...
1418John Adams to Abigail Adams, 14 November 1789 (Adams Papers)
I am impatient to return but partly on Account of my Son who wishes to Stay at Colledge as long as he can, and partly, on Account of my Books and other Things which I wish to get ready before I go, to be sent to N. Y. I fear I shall not see you these three Weeks. I should however break away if I were not necessitated to wait for my horse, whose Lameness is not wholly cured. Excepting the...
1419James Warren to Abigail Adams, 27 September 1775 (Adams Papers)
I Received yours last Evening. Att the same time that I feel a Joy on the happy recovery of yourself and Family, I feel a Tender Simpathy, and Concern with you on the Continuation of your Anxiety and Affliction by the Illness of your Mother. I hope you will soon be relieved by her recovery. I Intended before this to have had the pleasure of going to Plymo. and makeing at least a short Visit to...
1420John Adams to Abigail Adams, 11 July 1776 (Adams Papers)
You seem to be situated in the Place of greatest Tranquility and Security, of any upon the Continent. . . . I may be mistaken in this particular, and an Armament may have invaded your Neighbourhood before now. But We have no Intelligence of any such Design and all that We now know of the Motions, Plans, Operations, and Designs of the Enemy, indicates the Contrary.—It is but just that you...
1421Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 5 October 1800 (Adams Papers)
I now enclose you my Brother’s letter of July the 10 th: which I promised to transmit by this day’s Mail; but being anxious to see a considerable portion of it in print, & solicited by M r: Dennie to furnish him a copy for the Gazette of the U.S. of Monday next, I could not complete the copy in time for sending, so that I am apprehensive you will not receive it until after the President’s...
1422Joseph Gardoqui & Sons to Abigail Adams, 30 November 1781 (Adams Papers)
We beg leave to Trouble you above with duplicate of our last Respectts to you, and as have had since the very high pleasure and satisfaction of seeing with us your worthy Amable little Son Mr. Charles Adams under the Care of Major Jakson Intending boath to Returne home on Board the Armed Ship the Cicero Capt. Hugh Hill, have with the Majors advice Taken the liberty of altering your...
1423John Thaxter to Abigail Adams, 9 October 1782 (Adams Papers)
In receiving the Communication, that the T reaty of Amity and Commerce between the United States of America, and the seven United Provinces, was yesterday signed , You will at the same Time accept my sincere Congratulations upon this Event. It has been a long, tedious and troublesome Negotiation, and fortunately for our Country in very good Hands. Every Negotiation here takes up so much Time,...
1424Thomas Brand Hollis to Abigail Adams, 4 November 1786 (Adams Papers)
Mr Brand Hollis presents his compliments to Mrs Adams and desires her acceptance of two medals one on the execution of the counts Egmont and Horne two Dutch Patriots contrary to faith-given! The other on the Murder of the first Prince of Orange Base acts of a Tyrant! Three common wealth coins to record, what England once was. Mrs Adams had the only copy of the right hand of Fellowship which...
1425John Adams to Abigail Adams, 2 October 1775 (Adams Papers)
Every Thing here is in as good a Way as I could wish, considering the Temper and Designs of Administration. I assure you, the Letters have had no such bad Effects, as the Tories intended, and as some of our shortsighted Whiggs apprehended: so far otherwise that I see and hear every day, fresh Proofs that every Body is coming fast into every political Sentiment contained in them. I assure you I...
1426Benjamin Rush to Abigail Adams, 13 October 1800 (Adams Papers)
By the post on the 9 th instant I intruded a hasty line upon you, upon a reference Tench Coxe had made to me upon the subject of M r Adam’s political principles. I wrote to M r Coxe on the same day to demand justice from him for the injury he had done me. His publication has been contradicted as far as it relates to me in several of our papers. Tomorrow an Avowal of what I wrote to you a few...
1427John Adams to Abigail Adams, 2 December 1781 (Adams Papers)
Your favours of September 29 and Oct. 21. are before me. I avoided saying any Thing about Charles, to save you the Anxiety, which I fear you will now feel in its greatest severity a long time. I thought he would go directly home, in a short Passage, in the best Opportunity which would probably ever present. But I am dissappointed. Charles is at Bilbao with Major Jackson and Coll. Trumbull who...
1428Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 26 November 1786 (Adams Papers)
Come home my Sister, that Braintree may have some of its old inhabitants residing in it. Could you look in upon it, you would sigh over some of its desirted mansions. General Palmers Family mov’d last week to charlestown. They came here in a violent Snow-Storm; they had sent away all their Provision and had nothing to eat. The next day they Set off in much better Spirits than I expected. The...
1429John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 27 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
My Pappa enjoins it upon me to keep a journal, or a diary, of the Events that happen to me, and of objects that I See, and of Characters that I converse with from day, to day, and altho I am Convinced of the utility, importance, & necessity, of this Exercise, yet I have not patience, & perseverance, enough to do it so Constantly as I ought. My Pappa who takes a great deal of Pains to put me in...
1430Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 4 June 1785 (Adams Papers)
I have just heard that Scot is to sail tomorrow. I cannot let a vessel go without a few Lines when I know of it. I have a letter began at home for you, but I cannot get it Soon enough to go by this conveyence. The children have Letters for you and their Cousin but they must all wait for the next vessel. I have had so much company lately that it has been impossible to write as we would have...
1431John Thaxter to Abigail Adams, 12 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
On the 10th. of this Month I had the pleasure of recieving Letters from Hingham dated in February, which informed me of the Health of all Friends at both my dear Homes. They contain the first News I have recieved of the Kind. They gave me Relief from a Burden of Anxiety I had been under respecting the Severity of the Winter there. I have also Letters from Braintree, which inform me, that a...
1432John Adams to Abigail Adams, 9 January 1793 (Adams Papers)
In your Letter of Dec r 23 d you Say “Faxon wants Money to buy, three Cows and four young Cattle.”— I know not the Price of Stock: but if you can purchase him what he wants at a reasonable rate and can finds means to pay for them I shall be content. but I would employ Some one to purchase them in Bridgwater or Abington. Faxon himself is not So judicious as he ought to be, in Some Things. I...
1433Thomas Jefferson to Abigail Adams, 21 June 1785 (Adams 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...
1434John Adams to Abigail Adams, 27 January 1793 (Adams Papers)
I was not a little Surprized, a few days ago at receiving a Letter from D r Hutchinson as Secretary to the Philosophical society in this City certifying my Election as a Member of that Body. This Gentleman you know has been celebrated for his opposition to my Election as V.P. one of the Society since told me, that when I was nominated they all rose up and cryed out that I had been a Member...
1435Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody to Abigail Adams, 19 December 1797 (Adams Papers)
Least I should forget it, I acknowledge the receipt of ten Dollars you sent while I was at Haverhill, but in the multiplicity of my thoughts I for-got to mention it— you will please to excuse me— I have conversed with Mr Attwood about receiving pay for his expences he absolutely refuses taking anything for his trouble— The extra, charges I have seen payed, by mony Mr Attwood, & I found in his...
1436Francis Dana to Abigail Adams, 27 May 1798 (Adams Papers)
In my letter of the 27 th. of last Dec r: I took the liberty thrô you to recommend my friend Major John Hobby of Portland to some appointment in the stamp department of the revenue but I find that business has been annexed to an existing office. I have now to solicit for him one which probably will take place soon, I mean that of a purchasing & issuing commissary for the troops which are to be...
1437John Adams to Abigail Adams, 12 April 1778 (Adams Papers)
I am so sensible of the Difficulty of conveying Letters safe, to you, that I am afraid to write, any Thing more than to tell you that after all the Fatigues and Dangers of my Voyage, and Journey, I am here in Health. . . . The Reception I have met, in this Kingdom, has been as friendly, as polite, and as respectfull as was possible. It is the universal Opinion of the People here, of all Ranks,...
1438William Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams, 5 February 1799 (Adams Papers)
There is a class of men in this country, possessing some public confidence, but entirely destitute of any moral principle, whose whole lives are spent in the prostitution of their talents to the perversion of reason—whose unceasing endeavors are to mislead the public mind— to obstruct public business and by the aid of cavil, misrepresentation and artificial odium, to deprive the government of...
1439John Adams to Abigail Adams, 29 April 1777 (Adams Papers)
This days Post brought me yours of 17th. inst. and Miss Nabbys obliging Favour of the 16. This young Lady writes a very pretty Hand, and expresses her Thoughts with great Propriety. I shall hardly excuse Miss from writing to me, so long as I have done, now I find she can write so well. I shall carefully preserve her Letter and if she neglects to write me frequently I shall consider this Letter...
1440John Adams to Abigail Adams, 19 April 1778 (Adams Papers)
This Letter will be conveyed to you by Sir James Jay and Mr. Digges. Sir James is a Brother of the C hief J ustice of N. York. Mr. Digges is of one of the southern states. I never felt myself under so much Embarrassment in Writing because there never was so much Danger of my Letters falling into British Hands. I am pleasantly situated at Passi, a fine airy, salubrious Situation, in the same...
1441Louisa Catherine Adams to Abigail Adams, 7 December 1803 (Adams Papers)
I recieved your letter dear Madam and should have answer’d it had not the illness of the two children prevented me John was very sick cutting two teeth but is now perfectly recover’d and larger and fatter than ever George has been very ill owing to a severe cold which occasioned a smart fever for several days which reduced him very much he has not yet left his room but is nearly recover’d— M...
1442Elbridge Gerry to Abigail Adams, 24 November 1783 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Thaxter is arrived with the Definitive Treaty and I have the pleasure of receiving a number of letters from Mr. Adams. I think it will be Indispensably necessary to continue him in Europe, and shall therefore use my best endeavours for this purpose; but can form no Idea of what will be the determenation of Congress on the Occasion, as the Representation of the present year will be very...
1443Abigail Adams Smith to Abigail Adams, 15 and 22 June 1788 (Adams Papers)
We are anxiously expecting, by the arrival of every post, to hear of your safety and health. I begin to be very impatient to hear of an event in which I am so much interested. I fear that you have been detained in England longer than you expected, perhaps, by the receipt of the letters Col. Smith forwarded from Bath to my father. Mr. Jay was very much surprised that the gentlemen to whom he...
1444John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 28 February 1796 (Adams Papers)
The last Letter I wrote you should have gone by the Galen, but from being postponed to the last moment, the opportunity was lost, and it will now be delivered to you, together with this by my friend M r: Gardner who goes with Scott. He has also the goodness to take charge of the cloaks for yourself and Louisa, for which you wrote to my brother Thomas. As he remained at the Hague, I undertook...
1445John Adams to Abigail Adams, 29 June 1774 (Adams Papers)
I have a great Deal of Leisure, which I chiefly employ in Scribbling, that my Mind may not stand still or run back like my Fortune.—There is very little Business here, and David Sewall, David Wyer, John Sullivan and James Sullivan and Theophilus Bradbury are the Lawyers who attend the Inferiour Courts and consequently conduct the Causes at the Superiour. I find that the Country is the...
1446John Adams to Abigail Adams, 28 April 1776 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday, I received two Letters from you from the 7th. to the 14. of April. I believe I have received all your Letters, and I am not certain I wrote one from Framingham. The one I mean contains an Account of my dining with the Indians at Mr. Mifflins. It gives me Concern to think of the many Cares you must have upon your Mind. Am glad you have taken Belcher into Pay, and that Isaac is well...
1447William Cranch to Abigail Adams, 12 July 1797 (Adams Papers)
I thank you, my dear Madam, for your obliging fav r. of 5 th. instant, and for the interest you take in my happiness. Upon further deliberation, I had, before the receipt of your Letter, renounced all ideas of returning to Boston, and had determined immediately to apply for admission to the Bar in this state. I shall for this purpose go to Annapolis on Monday, and as soon after my return from...
1448John Adams to Abigail Adams, 17 August 1782 (Adams Papers)
Your Favour of June 17. arrived this Day and gave me, all the tender and melancholly Feelings of which my Heart is susceptible. How shall I express my solicitude for my amiable, my venerable Friend and Brother? This World contains not a wiser or a more virtuous Man. Just now placed in a situation, too where all his great Talents and excellent Virtues might have their full Effect!—But it is but...
1449John Adams to Abigail Adams, 2 July 1774 (Adams Papers)
I have concluded, to mount my Horse, tomorrow Morning at four, and ride to Wells to hear my old worthy learned ingenious Friend Hemmenway, whom I never was yet so happy as to hear. Mr. Winthrop agrees to be my Company. Wells is about 15 Miles from this Place: from thence we propose to ride after the Evening Service is over, to Saco, i.e. Biddeford, which is about 30 Miles from hence, which...
1450John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 18 February 1800 (Adams Papers)
A few days ago, I received your favour of 30. December of the last year; after a long interval during which I had not heard from you; and the communication with England from Hamburg having been for six weeks interrupted by the severity of the season, I was nearly the whole of that time without receiving any information from America— When it came at last, it was in one respect, of a nature...