1591Mercy Otis Warren to Abigail Adams, 14 August 1777 (Adams Papers)
Most sincerly do I Congratulate My Friend on her Restoration to Health after pain, peril and Disappointment. May she Long be spared to her Family and Friends, And be happy in Domestic Life, Though the political sky Looks Dark and Lowry and the Convulsions of War! shake the Lower Creation. You ask My opinion with Regard to affairs in the North. All I Can say is I am Mortifyed and Chagrind at...
1592Cotton Tufts to Abigail Adams, 20 July 1789 (Adams Papers)
I am much pleased to hear that you have a commodious Seat, its Scituation delightful & Prospect pleasant— We have had a fine Commencement & the Performances of the Day were spoken of with much Applause— Most excellent Things were said of the President & Vice President of the United States— their Characters were displayed in the brightest & strongest Colours It is a satisfaction to the great &...
1593John Adams to Abigail Adams, 4 July 1775 (Adams Papers)
This Letter is to go by my worthy Friend Mr. Stephen Collins of this City. This Gentleman is of Figure and Eminence as well as Fortune in this Place. He is of the Perswasion of the Friends, but not stiff nor rigid. He is a Native of Lynn in New England, a Brother of Ezra Collins in Boston, a Nephew of Friend Collins the Apothecary in Boston. I have been treated by him in this City, both in the...
1594John Thaxter to Abigail Adams, August 1781 (Adams Papers)
I am almost ashamed to intrude another Letter by this Conveyance, which, if it should prove a safe one, will throw into your hands an Abundance of trumpery from me, sufficient for one Year. Accept my thanks, Madam, for your Goodness in forwarding my Sister’s Letter to me. I feel myself much obliged by your kind attention to me in this way, and particularly for not reading the Letter which You...
1595Cotton Tufts to Abigail Adams, 15 August 1786 (Adams Papers)
In my Acctt. sent Mr. Adams you will not find any large sums Credited for Your Farm. The Farm Acct. with Pratt I settled in April last, the whole Produce of Your half amounted (for the Year preceding) to £37. 5.11. This is accounted for in part in my last Acctt. part in this and the Remainder is discharged by Pratts Acct for Work, Rates and Sunds. debited Tho Pratt and J. Marsh. The Losses...
1596Hannah Quincy Lincoln Storer to Abigail Adams, 27 November 1793 (Adams Papers)
Had you My respected friend join’d the Small, tho’ social Circle the last Thursday, it would have been an addition to our pleasure, but by your first friend I was Soon prevented Saying Much upon the Subject—[“]as none he Said ought to be present at the parting of Hector and Andromache but the Nurse and Child”— I have his permission to ask your Company for a day but a Night he would not consent...
1597Francis Dana to Abigail Adams, 23 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
While on the circuit here, I have received the enclosed letter from my friend M r: Stedman of Lancaster, brother in law to M rs: Dana— Finding that the Gentleman mentioned in it, is personally known to the President & yourself, and has been likewise recommended by Judge Cranch, it is altogether needless for me to trouble you further than by laying that letter before you— Indeed I am loth to do...
1598James Lovell to Abigail Adams, 9 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
I heartily congratulate you upon the indubitable Proofs of our Friends Arrival in France. You might imagine that the Congress had received some important Intelligence in the large Packets sent lately from Boston, if I did not acquaint you that they were chiefly for Monsr. Girard who is not yet arrived. A french Fleet having sailed for America, an English One being ready to follow, and a second...
1599John Adams to Abigail Adams, 5 March 1796 (Adams Papers)
I Yesterday rec d the Letter inclosed from my Son and in the Evening the President told me he had Letters from him. You will perceive the Prudence of reserving to yourself the hint in his Letter to me, as every Thing of the Kind will be eagerly Seized and easily exaggerated. The Treaties are all ratified by the Senate and Yesterday M r Elsworths Nomination was consented to as Chief Justice, by...
1600James Lovell to Abigail Adams, 7 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
The Post but now arrived will be again on his Way in an Hour; I retire therefore from a Circle of public Debate, to acknowledge, at a Side-Window, your Favor of February 13th. this Moment unsealed. I admire the Remarks. Be persuaded, lovely Moralist, to indulge me with a Sight of what occasioned them—“Passages of Letters of January 6th. and 18th.” I shall be much chagrined if you do not...
1601Cotton Tufts to Abigail Adams, 10 February 1790 (Adams Papers)
Our Gen l Court is now in the Fourth Week of its Session; very little Business of Importance as yet finished The Leisure Season of the Year invites many of our good Folks to spin out the Session to a Length more favourable to their Purses than to the Interest of their Constituents. Much has been said of the Necessity of making Provision for restoring the public Credit, However no Tax or any...
1602From Thomas Jefferson to Abigail Adams, 21 December 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
An unfortunate dislocation of my right wrist has for three months deprived me of the honor of writing to you. I begin now to use my pen a little, but it is in great pain, and I have no other use of my hand. The swelling has remained obstinately the same for two months past, and the joint, tho I beleive well set, does not become more flexible. I am strongly advised to go to some mineral waters...
1603John Adams to Abigail Adams, 30 April 1794 (Adams Papers)
Your favours of 18 th. and 19 th instant are so full of your Plans and Labours in Agriculture, that I begin to be jealous you will acquire a Reputation as a Farmer that will quite eclypse my own. I rejoice at length that all Tenants are dispossessed and that Land stock and Utensils are now at our own Disposal.— I am glad you have bought a Yoke of oxen and hope you will buy a farm horse. Our...
1604Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 25 April 1785 (Adams Papers)
I reciv’d your September Letters a little while after I sent off my November ones, and a Feast they were to me. Mr. Storer inform’d us of your leaving England, any thing further was all conjecture. We have not had one chance of Sending to you this winter except by the way of Amsterdam last week: but as I thought you would get a Letter sooner from England, and Capn. Lyde was to sail soon, I...
1605Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 21 June 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have your favor of the 15 th: inst t: and thank you for your kind solicitude respecting my health, which is just passable and no more— The extremes of heat & cold have a sensible effect upon my Constitution, and though I am tolerably free from rheumatics and faintness, yet I have the old complexion, with a tinge of yellow less perhaps than when I left you. My feverish habit still hangs about...
1606John Adams to Abigail Adams, 15 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Brown, whom I left at Passy, when I returned to you, and whom I found here, upon my return to Paris, will deliver you this and another Letter which I intended to have sent by the Viscount de Noailles, and two small Bundles containing a Piece of Chintz each. The Price is horrid, Sixty Livres a Piece, but I cannot trade, I suppose others would get them at half Price. If you will make me buy...
1607John Adams to Abigail Adams, 22 April 1789 (Adams Papers)
This is the first Moment I have been able to Seize, in order to acquaint you of my Arrival and Situation. Governor Clinton The Mayor of New York, all the old officers of the Continental Government, and the Clergy, Magistrates and People, have Seemed to emulate the two houses of Congress, in shewing every respect to me and to my office.— For Particulars I must refer you to the public Papers....
1608Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 28 February 1790 (Adams Papers)
I know you Will rejoice to hear that cousin Tom has got comfortable through the Measles. He caught them at Cambridge the day he arriv’d from new york— He came here the Monday after & told me he thought he had them but return’d the next day—promising to return as soon as he felt the Symtoms The Monday following his cousin William brought him home in a close carriage but he did not break out...
1609George Cabot to Abigail Adams, 17 January 1794 (Adams Papers)
The ice in the Delaware having delayed the post beyond it’s usual period I had not the honor to receive your esteemed letter of the 8 th until this moment, but my respect for the writer constrains me to acknowledge it’s arrival before I can be prepared to give an answer to its contents. in a free country it is so important that the people shou’d entertain just sentiments respecting their...
1610Mercy Otis Warren to Abigail Adams, 10 January 1803 (Adams Papers)
Painful necessity has for many months prevented me the use of my own pen,—nor have I seen any effect of yours for a very long period;— yet, judging from my own feelings, I have no doubt, you will be gratified by a renewed enquiry after your health and happiness.— By your son, I understand that the felicity of his parents is not interupted by any of the infirmities which usually creep on with...
1611Samuel Cooper to Abigail Adams, 2 March 1778 (Adams Papers)
Many besides my self partake with you in the Sollicitude you express respecting our dear Friend; for no Man could carry with him more of the ardent good Wishes of his Country than Mr. Adams did. His Merit is great in denying himself so much for the Service of his Country, and your’s not a little in giving up so much domestic Happiness for the Sake of this Service. Heaven, I trust, will protect...
1612John Adams to Abigail Adams, 21 January 1794 (Adams Papers)
We go Slowly forward: So Slowly as to produce no Results, which is a better course than to run rapidly in a Career of Mischief. I go to Senate every day, read the News papers before I go and the Public Papers afterwards, see a few Friends once a Week, go to Church on Sundays; write now and then a Line to you and to Nabby: and oftener to Charles than to his Brothers to See if I can fix his...
1613John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 30 July 1783 (Adams Papers)
Altho’ I have already written you by Mr. Brush who will probably deliver this to you; yet I cannot help writing a few more Lines to justify myself with you, from a reproach; the Idea of which I cannot bear. If the Northern Regions have frozen up that Quick and Lively Imagination, which you are please to say, used to be agreeable to my Friends, they have most certainly not chilled my affection,...
1614John Thaxter to Abigail Adams, 31 March 1778 (Adams Papers)
Since I wrote you last, the mystery of blank Dispatches being sent by Capt. Folgier from France has been developed. One Capt. Hinson (who was honored with Dr. Franklin’s confidence) was guilty of the treachery and robbery. Hinson it seems was to have brought the Dispatches if Folgier declined. But when he found that Folgier accepted the trust, he, from his knowledge of the position and, I...
1615John Adams to Abigail Adams, 3 January 1797 (Adams Papers)
I rec d Yesterday your favour of 23. of Dec r. from Boston. The old Patrioch, has got a Name of Old Scrathum, or old Scratch or Some Such Oddity that will amuse the Blackguards for a time. M rs Storers Verses are very shrewd The Story of my Muteness, or Incapacity to talk, I almost wish were true.— On Some Occasions. D r Walters Politeness to be Sure is conspicuous. It is enough at present to...
1616John Adams to Abigail Adams, 18 February 1776 (Adams Papers)
I sent you from New York a Pamphlet intituled Common Sense, written in Vindication of Doctrines which there is Reason to expect that the further Encroachments of Tyranny and Depredations of Oppression, will soon make the common Faith: unless the cunning Ministry, by proposing Negociations and Terms of Reconciliation, should divert the present Current from its Channell. Reconciliation if...
1617Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 28 December 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have just clos’d a long Letter to sister Peabody from whom I reciev’d one last week— Tis the first I have written to her Since I was Sick She is well herself but mr Peabody has been More unwell than Since they were married ha Sore in his ear attended with great pain in his Neck he is better, & got out again— I hope you my dear Sister are well of your cold, but your troubles must be great...
1618John Adams to Abigail Adams, 29 January 1796 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday which was Post Day from the Eastward I was disappointed again of a Letter and went pesting all the day long against the Post office. But this morning has produced me yours of the 15 th which informs me that you meet with similar Dissappointments. There has not one Post parted from Philadelphia for Boston Since I have been here without a Letter from me to You. Wednesdays and Saturdays...
1619[From Thomas Jefferson to Abigail Adams, 7 January 1787] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Paris, 7 Jan. 1787. Recorded in SJL under this date. Not found; but see Mrs. Adams’ reply, 29 Jan. 1787.]
1620Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 9 January 1801 (Adams Papers)
I have received your letters of the 2 d: & 3 d: inst ts: and thank you for them— I shall agree with Fielding for the Coachee and attend to the conveniences you mention. I can suggest no method for your coming to this place, unless by taking a carriage from Washington, which might be sent back by Stage-horses. Barney, of Georgetown, would most probably contract with you for one— I am so...