25981From Abigail Smith Adams to Caroline Amelia Smith De Windt, 9 December 1809 (Adams Papers)
Thursday the 30th of November was our thanksgiving day. I was not able to go to meeting owing to my eye, which I regretted very much, as our good minister is always excellent upon particular occasions, I am told he was upon this At dinner I looked round, I hope with a thankful heart, but alass! how many of my dear children were absent, not one of them to give pleasure to the festive table, for...
25982From John Adams to Caroline Amelia Smith De Windt, 18 December 1823 (Adams Papers)
Your kind letter of the 14th. has given me great pleasure, I congratulate you on the Birth of your fifth Daughter. God Bless the lovely little creatures, may they all imitate their Mothers & Grand Mothers from the seventh or eighthth generations such a race of Mothers has rarely existed in this world I believe. I hope you will educate them as you Grand Mother was educated, by reconciling...
25983From Abigail Smith Adams to Caroline Amelia Smith De Windt, 11 August 1811 (Adams Papers)
I do not know how our account stands, whether I am indebted for a letter or you, but I shall not be very strict with you; I am always delighted with your letters, whether to me or to Susan; we talk daily of you, and wish for you, and when I think how far you all are from me, I am ready to sit down and weep. We go on much in the old way here—now and then a large party, then a few friends....
25984From John Adams to Caroline Amelia Smith De Windt, 19 May 1819 (Adams Papers)
Thank Mr De Wint for his Box of New york Cider Grove champaigne—Accept my thanks for the two Newspapers—my Introduction or rather presentations to the King and Queen of England have been heretofore published in broken scraps, mutilated and misrepresented. They have never before appeared with Official Authenticity Who has now brought them to light I cannot conceive. I cannot Suspect Mr Jay—for...
25985From Abigail Smith Adams to Caroline Amelia Smith De Windt, 26 February 1811 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter, my dear Caroline, gave me pleasure. As all your’s are calculated to enliven the spirits, I take them as a cordial, which during the residence of the baldpated winter and a close confinement to my chamber for several weeks, I have been much in want of. And now what return can I make you—What can you expect from age, debility and weakness? Why, you shall have the return of a...
25986From John Adams to Caroline Amelia Smith De Windt, 1 January 1820 (Adams Papers)
I wish you a happy New year, and as many new-years as your Nature can bear, in health Peace and Competence with your Children like Olive Plants about your table—but be sure to make them all Male and Female Children, Grand Children, and Great Grand Children work hard with their own hands, so as to be able to command their own livelihood by their Industry Economy and sagacity— I am very glad to...
25987From John Quincy Adams to Caroline Amelia Smith De Windt, 19 March 1819 (Adams Papers)
I gave the Portrait of my beloved and lamented Sister your dear Mother, to mine, without reserve and to be disposed of at her pleasure—And however gratifying it would be to me, to be the possessor of it myself, I acknowledge your still stronger claim to it, and were it mine to give away again, would ask your acceptance of it—I have no such powers for it is yours, by the donation of her to whom...
25988From Abigail Smith Adams to Caroline Amelia Smith De Windt, 27 September 1814 (Adams Papers)
This morning’s post brought me your letter of the 20th. We were all delighted; grandfather’s tears watered his cheek when he read the letter; Susan skipped with all her warmth and ardour, into every part of the scene. “In joyous youth, what soul hath never known, Thoughts, feelings, taste, harmonious to its own.” S. walked her mile and a half to communicate the grateful tidings; every heart...
25989From Abigail Smith Adams to Caroline Amelia Smith De Windt, 28 May 1808 (Adams Papers)
Your letter of May the 8th, your grandpapa brought home with him from church, on Sunday the 20th; owing to sickness I was not able to go, and am yet confined to my chamber. My fever and cough are both leaving me, and I hope a few days more will give me health sufficient to enjoy the fine season. I have been reading a novel called the Wild Irish Girl. Why the term wild is given, I know not,...
25990From John Quincy Adams to Caroline Amelia Smith De Windt, 17 January 1820 (Adams Papers)
There is but one copy of the “Epistle to my Mother” extant, and that is an unfinished fragment—I should be very unwilling that another copy of it should be taken especially in its present situation condition. It was written exclusively for the eyes of her to whom it was addressed, and of my father; and with the exception of perhaps twenty lines at the close, inspired by the grateful affection...