2151From John Quincy Adams to Abigail Smith Adams, 15 October 1816 (Adams Papers)
The quiet Season has at length arrived. For the last six weeks I have had no occasion to go into London, except upon business, and there is some relaxation of that—Almost all the Cabinet Ministers are absent upon excursions; and Lord Castlereagh is gone to Ireland to see his father . The Morning Chronicle gives a shrewd hint, that it is the sign that Parliament will be dissolved, and that his...
2152From François Adriaan Van der Kemp to Abigail Smith Adams, 15 March 1814 (Adams Papers)
Among Several letters—laid aside—during my late exertions in behalf of a countrÿ, which I cannot cease to love, I must do my Self the pleasure, of paying you a debt of the gratitude for your favour of Febr. 23, with which you was So obliging to honour me again. Knowing the yet infirm State of your health, I had not dared to flatter mÿ Self, to receive So Soon a fresh proof of your kind...
2153From John Quincy Adams to Abigail Smith Adams, 25 October 1814 (Adams Papers)
This is the day of jubile! the fiftieth year since your marriage is completed! By the blessing of Heaven, my dear father can look back to all the succession of years since that time, with the conscious recollection that it was a happy day—The same pleasing remembrance I flatter myself is yours; and may that gracious being who has hitherto conducted you together through all the vicissitudes of...
2154From John Quincy Adams to Abigail Smith Adams, 30 November 1812 (Adams Papers)
I think it not improbable that on receiving the public accounts of the progress of the War in this Country for the first three months after it commenced, and especially those of the entrance of the French Emperor and his army at Moscow, with the destruction almost total of that Capital, you may have been not altogether unconcerned on our account, and considered us as not altogether secure from...
2155From Richard Rush to Abigail Smith Adams, 4 May 1817 (Adams Papers)
Some time in the early part of last month, I had the pleasure to write you a letter in answer to your favor of the 24th of March. The mail is so true that it never occurs to us to doubt the safe arrival of a letter when we know that it has been safely lodged in the post office; nor did that which I wrote leave any thing suspended leading me to look for an answer. My only reason for thus...
2156From John Quincy Adams to Abigail Smith Adams, 25 October 1810 (Adams Papers)
Although I wrote you about ten days ago, I cannot suffer Captain Leach to depart without taking a letter for you; especially as since the date of my last, I have received another letter from you—it is that of 28. May, which you sent on to come by Captain Bainbridge—It miss’d indeed that opportunity, but was sent with some despatches of the Department of State to France from whence it was...
2157From Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody to Abigail Smith Adams, 10 November 1810 (Adams Papers)
I know that my Dear Sister, will rejoice to hear that the kind Healer of the sick, has again restored my Health, so far as to enable me to take charge of my domestic affairs, & I hope, render some essential service to the youthful family, which is ever alloted to my care— My attentive faithful Lydia, is fulfilling your Predictions, & has recovered beyond probability, has becomes as...
2158From John Quincy Adams to Abigail Smith Adams, 13 May 1816 (Adams Papers)
I have had the pleasure of receiving your kind Letters of 22. March. and 7. April; and at the same time my wife and children all received the like tokens of your affectionate remembrance. The last is to Mr J. A. Smith of 13 April.—They ought all, and I hope will answer you more at length, than it is in my power to do. For the last six weeks, besides the pressure of my correspondence, which is...
2159From William Stephens Smith to Abigail Smith Adams, 1 January 1816 (Adams Papers)
Being thus particular, in designating my position I think my friends at Quincy will not hereafter be at a loss where to address their pleasant letters to me, I am induced to be thus minute, by a remark in your letter of the 18th. of november, which I was delighted to receive,—wherein you say, you had contemplated writing to me for some time previous to the receipt of my Letters to The...
2160From John Quincy Adams to Abigail Smith Adams, 12 May 1814 (Adams Papers)
I left St: Petersburg on the 28th. of last Month, as in the Letter of which I now enclose a press-Copy, I mentioned to you was my intention, and I arrived here on the morning of the first of May.—The ice had not then broken up in this harbour, and no vessel has yet ventured to sail from it—I have engaged a passage for Stockholm in one of the first which will depart, and I am now flattered with...
2161From John Quincy Adams to Abigail Smith Adams, 5 December 1815 (Adams Papers)
The only Letters that I have had the pleasure of receiving from you since I wrote you last are those of the 6th. and 12th. of October both of which came by the Galen. The latest preceding one was dated on the 30th. of August so that I am still waiting for your Septbr. Letters. Although I have not yet entirely recovered the use of my eyes and must still write you by the hand of my Wife I have...
2162From Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody to Abigail Smith Adams, 10 May 1806 (Adams Papers)
It has been a cold backward Spring, & Abby could not get abroad as I wished, she has a great deal of pain in her side yet, but I think her feverish habit abates, if her appetite was but good I should be greatly encouraged, & hope she would soon be as well as ever—I am rejoiced to hear Mrs Foster has a Daughter, & comfortable, from what you wrote, I was greatly concerned about her. Mrs Norton &...
2163From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to Abigail Smith Adams, 30 March 1818 (Adams Papers)
In my last I think I informed you that the news of this place was become so little interesting that my journal must cease added to which my health has become so unequal I am seldom well two days together—The last week we had a party of twenty at dinner consisting of Mr: & Mrs.Otis, Mr: Mason, Mr. & Mrs. Sears, Miss Perkins, Mr. & Mrs: Tucker of Virginia, Govr. & Mrs. Middleton of South...
2164From Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody to Abigail Smith Adams, 26 April 1812 (Adams Papers)
The human Pores have been so long obstructed by the late severe Season, & peircing winds of March, that it has occasiond many to be “sick in April”—The want of usual Perspiration, is I believe the Cause of the spotted Fever—The arrows of the “destroying Angel have not as yet, been permited to reach us, though his Shafts have pierced many Families, in the Towns adjacent, as I suppose, the News...
2165From John Quincy Adams to Abigail Smith Adams, 2 November 1817 (Adams Papers)
Your kind Letter of 15th. October was received by me on the 20th. from which time, the only possible choice that has been left me with regard to my employments has been what necessary act of duty I should postpone for the sake of attending others still more urgent. On that day (the 20th.) the President returned to the City.—There is a routine of the ordinary department business of the...
2166From Julia Stockton Rush to Abigail Smith Adams, 8 April 1815 (Adams Papers)
I am at a loss how to express my obligations for your kind remembrance after the long interruption to our correspondance. Be assured dear Madam it is not because I am insensible to the favor you have conferred on me. I feel the full force of your condecension. I also feel how inadequate I am to offer you any suitable return for the gratification your letters afford me, therefore I have been...
2167From John Quincy Adams to Abigail Smith Adams, 15 November 1810 (Adams Papers)
There were last Winter fifteen or sixteen American vessels, that pass’d the Winter at Cronstadt—This year there will be none—I wrote you by the last vessels that sailed, and since then I have had an opportunity to send letters by land to Gothenburg, to be forwarded from thence to America—By that opportunity I wrote to my father, and with this I enclose a duplicate of that letter to him.—There...
2168From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to Abigail Smith Adams, 17 May 1816 (Adams Papers)
Within a few days I have received your two very kind letters of April and am sincerely grieved to find your health still continues so poorly the fine season will I still flatter myself restore you to your wonted strength and entirely relieve you from your present complaints. In my last I mentioned to you, that I expected to attend at the Royal Nuptials which took place on the second of May—We...
2169From Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody to Abigail Smith Adams, 19 August 1813 (Adams Papers)
If all the tenderest sympathy of a most affectionate Sister, could soothe your afflicted Breast, sure mine would impart some healing Balm. But though it may have some power to ameliorate, yet, unless aided by divine Consolations, it can have but little efficacy—Thanks be to Heaven, the resources derived from Christianity are open to you, my venerable Brother, & Sister,—& dear bereaved young...
2170From Hannah Phillips Cushing to Abigail Smith Adams, 29 January 1818 (Adams Papers)
We came here in less than four hours. Found the riding much better than was expected & were not in the least incommoded by the rain. The Ply Stage was on wheels. We had Tea immediately after which Mr Hammatt left as being so anxious to join his family we could not persuad him to pass the night here. I find myself invigorated by the excursion, as is always the case after joining the society...
2171From Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody to Abigail Smith Adams, 13 May 1814 (Adams Papers)
I have often felt thankful that we cannot trace our Geneology to the family of Kill-Joys , but are closely allied to those, who considered every dispensation as the allotment of an alwise Parent, who has permit ted us in this Vale of Tears, to gather every comfort, every incidental circumstance, which may grow into a Blessing, & gratefully enjoy the present moment— While I regret Mr T. Adams’,...
2172From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to Abigail Smith Adams, 28 October 1809 (Adams Papers)
At length my dear Madam we have arrived in this splendid City and find ourselves plunged into the midst of difficulties, and expences from which nothing but a return to our own Country can extricate us, unless the American Government will double the present appointments, which I am almost certain will never take place— Mr Adams has not yet been presented owing to the indisposition of the...
2173From Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody to Abigail Smith Adams, 20 November 1809 (Adams Papers)
I have been hoping every day since since I got home, that I should have more leisure tomorrow , for writing—But every day brings something to mind, company, & Care—& I am determined not to wait another moment, but immediately let you know that we set out for home, the Friday after I left Quincy, & arrived at Atkinson monday Eve—The Vacation was ended, & I knew I was much wanted in my family—Mr...
2174From Mercy Otis Warren to Abigail Smith Adams, 8 December 1811 (Adams Papers)
Though I have felt the complicated affliction that has recently assailed my friends at Quincy, I have been silent;—nor should I now interrupt you from this unexpected Quarter, but from the interest I feel in her happiness, and the desire I have to know the situation of your amiable daughter.— I have never heard a word from her since her Brother was here,—the day after she passed through a...
2175From John Quincy Adams to Abigail Smith Adams, 12 August 1816 (Adams Papers)
I have received Letters from you, of 22. March, 7. April, 9. and 20 May, and 29. and 30 June. every one of which, had it been possible, I would have answered by a long Letter—But even now, I can do little more than express my joy at perceiving the recovery of your health and Spirits, in the cheerfulness and gaiety returning to your Style. I had flattered myself that after the rising of...
2176From Charles Francis Adams to Abigail Smith Adams, 19 January 1814 (Adams Papers)
After having written to my Grandpapa, and my Brothers, I must not omit writing to you, to express my gratitude for your kindness to my Brothers, as well as to myself, longer ago than I can remember. We have now vacation time at school; and one Evening, Papa and Mama permitted me to have a party of my school-mates, and a few other young Gentlemen and Ladies of my acquaintance. We had a great...
2177From James Madison to Abigail Smith Adams, 15 August 1810 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Letter of the 1st. instant. Altho’ I have not learned that Mr. Adams has yet signified to the Department of State his wish to return from the Mission to St. Petersburg, it is sufficiently ascertained by your communication, as well as satisfactorily explained by the considerations suggested. I have accordingly desired the Secretary of State to let him understand that as it...
2178From Mercy Otis Warren to Abigail Smith Adams, 28 June 1813 (Adams Papers)
I have not received a Letter for a long time that gave me such real heart-felt pleasure, as yours of the 20th. Instt.—I had been led from report to despair of the life of my friend, Mrs Smith.— Think then, how much I must rejoice to see her mother write concerning her in so good spirits, and to express a hope of again embracing her daughter, under the parental roof.—I also rejoice to hear of...
2179From John Quincy Adams to Abigail Smith Adams, 12 November 1805 (Adams Papers)
As our driver is about to return, I take the opportunity to inform you that we arrived here safely last Evening, and found a Packet, ready to sail, and waiting only for us—Mr: Otis is here also, and goes on with us—We are all well, excepting Mrs. Adams and Eliza, whose coughs are very troublesome— We are to go on board the Packet at 9 o’clock this morning; the weather is as fine as possible;...
2180From Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody to Abigail Smith Adams, 28 June 1811 (Adams Papers)
The very sudden change of the weather last Sabbath, when I was in a high state of persperation; caused so great opression & hoarseness upon my Lungs, as made me feel quite sick, & detained me in Town a day longer than I intended—As I had not sent to Mr Peabody, I thought best to send to Mr Parker, & go on Bag, & baggage, to our own Door in Atkinson by Wednesday Stage, which was much more...