5051John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 18 February 1781 (Adams Papers)
The other day I received your letter, of the 12th of this month, in which you ask me whether my Master would choose that I should have Terence with a translation? I believe that he had rather I should not; because when I shall translate him he would desire that I might do it without help. I should be glad if you would bring me Mr. Cerisier’s history of this Country, if you can spare it. There...
5052James Lovell to Abigail Adams, 27 February 1781 (Adams Papers)
Your Effects, expected in the Alliance, came in the Ariel. Yesterday two Cases were brought to my Chamber, the Size of which I give on the other Side to govern your future Directions as to Transportation. Inches } 54 long } 27 long 18 high 17 broad 16 broad 14 high I received at the same Time a Box for my Friend Gerry and another for Col. Peabody. Having deliver’d the former agreable to his...
5053Isaac Smith Sr. to John Adams, 27 February 1781 (Adams Papers)
I wrote you a few days since by a ship which goes in Company with this of the success under Genl. Morgan in the Caralinions Over the famous Tarleton. Since which we have the Agreeable Advize of an Expedition of a 64 ship and 2 frigates part of the french fleet att Rd. Island, haveing been to Virginia in order to ketch Genl. Phillips and Arnold, which business they have compleated haveing saild...
5054James Lovell to Abigail Adams, 1 March 1781 (Adams Papers)
In my last I told you that the Case which was brought to my Lodgings for your Benefit did not appear full according to the common Mode of Packing for a Voyage. I ought to have endeavored to give you a Kind of Invoice of its Contents. I had not Time. It will now perhaps enable you to decide whether there have been Filchings if I give you only the following Sketch. 18 Ells of Diaper at 10 some...
5055Abigail Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 5 March 1781 (Adams Papers)
Your two sons did me the favour of calling upon me yesterday morning and Breakfasting with me. The bad roads prevented their lodgeing here the Night before as they kindly intended. I was very glad to see them, and would have had them remain with me till the Storm was over, but they were apprehensive of worse weather, and chose to go on. I feel for these young Gentlemen a particular affection,...
5056James Lovell to Abigail Adams, 5 March 1781 (Adams Papers)
Doctr. Winship left this City Today and has been so kind as to take into his Care two small Packages. I could not impose more on his Goodness. I hope they will escape Thieves and all Injury from Wet or Rubbing. I have cautioned and he has promised. You will find at Mrs. Lovell’s or Mr. Smith’s after the Doctr. reaches Boston, a Package in a very coarse Wrapper. It contains your Band Box, your...
5057Elizabeth Ellery Dana to Abigail Adams, 6 March 1781 (Adams Papers)
Your favor of the 5th gave me sensible pain. Had I had the least doubt that you was not so happy as to have heard from Mr. Adams by the Mars, I should before this communicated part of the contents of mine from Mr. D ana dated Amsterdam Nov. 7th when all friends were well. Mr. D was to leave Holland for Paris the next week but whither in company with Mr. Adams he did not write. He writes that...
5058John Adams to Abigail Adams, 11 March 1781 (Adams Papers)
My Letters by Davis, Mr. Guild &c. are lost.—Pray did you get the Goods by Davis? This goes by Mr. De L’Etombe Consul of France, a worthy Man. He will do honour to his Country and good to ours. My Boys are both Students in the University of Leyden.—All well.—Write me by the Way of Spain, France, Holland, Sweeden and every other. Jones carried your Chest, Samson carried another.—Yours with more...
5059John Adams to Isaac Smith Sr., 11 March 1781 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of the 18th. of Decr. reached me to day. I lament the Loss of my Letters by Davis, but I hope Mrs. Adams did not lose her Present, which I hear nothing of. I thank You, Sir, for the kind News of my Family. Mr. Guild is taken and all my Letters and other things sent by him lost. I wish I could give You any good News, especially of Peace, but alass there is no hopes of it. The...
5060Abigail Adams to James Lovell, 17 March 1781 (Adams Papers)
It was not till the last week in Febry. that your favour of Janry. 8th reachd me. I had waited the arrival of each post with impatience but was so repeatedly dissapointed that I almost gave up my correspondent even in the way of Friendship. I struck up of the list of Galantry some time ago. It is a character in my mind very unbefitting a senator notwithstanding the Authority of Chesterfeild...
5061Abigail Adams to John Adams, 19 March 1781 (Adams Papers)
It was only an hour ago that I was informd of a vessel just ready to sail for Amsterdam; by forgetfullness in the Messenger I have so short warning as to be able to write you only a few lines, yet a few is more than have come to my hand for six months, in all which space only a few lines written last May have reachd me. The Mars arrived the beginning of this Month after a very long passage,...
5062John Thaxter to Abigail Adams, 1 April 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have been duly honoured with your two favours of the 18th. of Novr. and 8th. of December. I am much obliged by the particular Account You have given of the Rise, Progress and fatal Issue of the fond Attachment of Mr. C. to Miss P. I confess with great Candour it contains many Circumstances hitherto unknown to me. I have indeed, Madam, an unavoidable and involuntary Share in the dreadful...
5063John Thaxter to John Adams, 5 April 1781 (Adams Papers)
Knowing that the Fever of your dear Charles is a Source of continual Anxiety to You, any thing tending to decrease or remove it cannot fail to be agreable. The Fit of this day was mild and only of an hour and an half or two hours duration. It came on at ten—he laid upon his Bed during the Fit, and rose up after it very gay and merry, dined with Us and has been in good Spirits all the...
5064Elizabeth Smith Shaw to Mary Smith Cranch, 6 April 1781 (Adams Papers)
When I received your last kind, and daily Remembrance of me, I felt doubly obliged, for I knew I was in the arrears, and had not deserved it, and my gratitude rose in proportion. You have greatly the advantage of me in the enjoyment of quiet Life, in thinking over Letters while you at work, and in the possession of your own thoughts. For if Ideas present themselves to my Mind, it is too much...
5065John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 8 April 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have been wanting to write to you this sometime but there has been nothing worth writing, and even now I know not what to write. We have not long since, heard of the taking of St. Eustatia, it cast a great damp upon the spirits of the dutchmen here; however the latest news from America make up for it for in the English news papers there is paragraph which makes mention that by the latest...
5066James Lovell to Abigail Adams, 17 April 1781 (Adams Papers)
By your Letter of the 3d. received this day I find that I have lost the Pleasure of having what you and Mr. Cranch wrote some Time ago respecting your little Invoices. Tho’ I make little Progress in forwarding your Property yet my past Notifications will show that I am constantly attentive to the Business. I suspect that Mr. Cranch may have mentioned some Waggons which came to this City with...
5067Abigail Adams to John Adams, 23 April 1781 (Adams Papers)
You will wonder I suppose to what part of the world all the Letters you have written since the 25 of Sepbr. are gone, that not a line of a later date has reachd me, even up to this 23 day of April. My Heart sickens at the recollection, and I most sensibly feel the sacrifice of my happiness from the Malignant Union of Mars with Belona. My two dear Boys cannot immagine how ardently I long to...
5068James Lovell to Abigail Adams, 23 April 1781 (Adams Papers)
Not receiving any Line from you by this day’s post, I recur to your favor of April 3d. already answered in part. I wrote to Col. Hughes to endeavor to forward the two Packages left by Doctor Winship, if he could find where they were deposited. I hope he will have found them and had them cased in Boards. Capt. J. P. Jones is without Letter or Invoice and supposes they must have been sent by the...
5069John Adams to Abigail Adams, 28 April 1781 (Adams Papers)
Congress have been pleased to give me so much other Business to do, that I have not Time to write either to Congress, or to private Friends so often as I used. Having lately received Letters of Credence to their High mightinesses the states General of the United Provinces of the Low Countries and to his most serene Highness the Prince of Orange, I am now fixed to this Country, untill I shall...
5070Joseph Gardoqui & Sons to Abigail Adams, 2 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
Your much respected and highly Esteemed favour of the 4th of Septr. last we duelly received and after a due acknowledgment for its agreable Contents are not a little sorry to Informe you that it was not in our power to comply with your desire of shipping the articles you are pleased to order by our freind Mr. Smiths Vessell as she putt in at Ferrol and proceeded from thence back to America....
5071Abigail Adams to James Lovell, 10 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
Upon opening your favour of April 17 my Heart Beat a double stroke when I found that the Letter which I supposed had reachd you was the one captured in the room of that you received which was what I had supposed lost, but I should have been secure from the knowledge of the writer if Mr. Cranchs Letter and one I wrote at the same time had not accompanied it. The Letter which I would not have...
5072Abigail Adams to James Lovell, 13 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
I wrote you by the last post with a freedom which perhaps you may think I had no right to make use of. I was stimulated to it by many severe speaches that I had heard, and from not knowing myself what to say in paliation of my Friend. All former excuses were worn out by time and tho I do not believe the hard things I have heard, I think he ought to suffer any temporary inconvenience which a...
5073John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 13 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
As you may possibly not come here before the 18th I write to know, if I must leave these lodgings at that time, as the month will then be up, and if I stay any longer I must begin another month. I have finish’d Phaedrus’s fables and the lives of Miltiades, Themistocles, Aristides, Pausanias, Cimon, and Lysander; and Am going next upon Alcibiades in Cornelius Nepos, I shall begin upon...
5074John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 14 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
I received yours of 13 this morning. If you have not found a convenient Place to remove into, you may continue in your present Lodgings another Month. I am glad you have finished Phaedrus, and made Such Progress in Nepos, and in Greek. Amidst your Ardour for Greek and Latin I hope you will not forget your mother Tongue. Read Somewhat in the English Poets every day. You will find them elegant,...
5075James Lovell to Abigail Adams, 14 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
By a Letter of the 1st., this Moment received, I find that my amiable and respected Friend is under the mistake of supposing the Enemy in Possession of one of her former which has reached me, and that I have neglected to answer some others. She will know better before this reaches her. The Enemy have the one which attended Mr. Cranche’s: So that I have no Knowledge of the Mode He or She...
5076John Adams to Abigail Adams, 16 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
I am now settled at Amsterdam on the Keysers Gragt near the Spiegel Straat. Charles is with me to recover his Health after his fever. John is at Leyden. Mr. Thaxter with me. De la Motte Piquet has taken half Rodneys Plunder. I know not what other News to write. We hope, that Vessels will soon arrive from Boston. Hope you have received your Boxes by Sampson and Jones. I shall send you, as I...
5077John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 17 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
I reciev’d this morning your letter of the 14th. in which you speak of Poetry, and although I have not read much of it, yet I always admired it, very much. I take the Delft Dutch paper to learn to read the language. To day there is a report which I read in it that Admiral Kingsbergen had taken fourteen of the German Transports, but this is only a report. Inclosed is a letter which I reciev’d...
5078John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 18 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have this Morning received yours inclosing a Letter from the Duke de la Vauguion. Please to inform me in your next, when the Vacation begins. It is my Design that you shall come and spend a Part of the Vacation with me.—I approve very much of your taking the Delft Gazette the Writer of which is a great Master of his Language, and is besides a very good Friend to his Country and to yours. You...
5079John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 19 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
I reciev’d this morning your yesterday’s favour, in which you say, you want to hear of my beginning in Sallust; I have not begun yet but shall soon; but am for the present continuing in Cornelius Nepos. I have got a fair copy of Phaedrus bound, it is My Master’s Translation which if you desire to read, and have time for it, I will send to you. The Vacancy does not begin at the same time,...
5080John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 21 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed are some numbers of the lettres Hollandoises. I took them out of thier covers, because I knew they were nothing else, and I could not do them up so well when they were in, however, if you please, I will not take out any more; Mr. Luzac’s this day’s paper is also inclos’d. I wrote to brother Charles by Mr. Thaxter, and to you the night before last, but have not yet reciev’d answers to...
5081Hugh Hughes to Abigail Adams, 21 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
I do myself the Honour, at the Request of the Honble. James Lovel Esq; Member of Congress, to address two Packages, that were left here by Doctr. Winship, to you. They came to Hand without a Case, which I have order’d made for their Security. They are in Charge of a Mr. Brown, who conducts a Wagon from Philadelphia to Boston, for some Members of Congress and others. When I began this, Brown...
5082James Lovell to Abigail Adams, 21 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
I hope you are not still without later Dates from Mr. A’s Hand than what we have—Oct. 24. I conclude he was well about the last of Febry., because Mr. Carmichael under Date of March 11th sends us Mr. A’s Plan of a Loan to be opened at the House of Nieufville & Son March 1st. We have no Vessels from Holland. Accept of my Conjecture as a Proof of my uniform Wish to contribute to your Ease of...
5083Benjamin Waterhouse to John Adams, 21 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
Almost every body here is preparing for the fair which opens next Thursday, and as this is Leyden- ’Lection I was saying to my companion that it was a pity Master Charles was not here that he might see that a Dutchman can be merry when he is resolved upon it. And John seems to wish it so much, that I thought I would write to you and if you had no objection we should have the little Gentlemans...
5084John Adams to Abigail Adams, 22 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
I Yesterday received your Letters by Captain Cazneau and Mr. De Neufville received his, and will accordingly send the Things you wrote for. You had better pursue this Method and write to Mr. Guardoqui at Bilboa and Mr. De Neufville here for what you want and desire them to draw upon me for the Pay. I will answer the Letters of my Friends as soon as I can, but I have so many Things upon me at...
5085Abigail Adams to John Thaxter, 23 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
The sight of your old Friend Mr. Storer will give you sensible pleasure, he means to be the Bearer of this to you. I wish him safe. I need not add any thing in recommendation to you, who know him so well further than to say his character is not less fair or amiable, than it was when you quitted your native Land. He will I hope continue as free abroad from the fashionable vices of other...
5086Isaac Smith Sr. to John Adams, 23 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
Not knowing but this may reach you as soon or sooner than a conveyance from Newbury (a ship of the Tracy’s Capt. Brown) by whom Mrs. Adams has wrote you—As such I take upon me to trouble you with a few lines, to let you know Mrs. Adams and family were well Yesterday. We have a ship from Port Loreon Lorient last week in 27 days, but as to News we have nothing Material, was in hopes the Dutch...
5087Abigail Adams 2d to John Quincy Adams, 24 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
And are you really determined my Dear Brother not to condescend to write to your Sister again till She has answered some of your letters. I must acknowledge myself rather in arrears, but you must consider that you are daily removing from one scene to another, new and pleasing objects continually engage your attention, and furnish you with new subjects and pleasing ideas which if related by you...
5088Abigail Adams to John Adams, 25 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
In this Beautifull month when Nature wears her gayest garb, and animal and vegetable life is diffused on every side, when the Chearfull hand of industery is laying a foundation for a plentifull Harvest who can forbear to rejoice in the Season, or refrain looking “through Nature up to Nature’s God?” While my Heart expands, it sighing seeks its associate and joins its first parent in that...
5089Abigail Adams 2d to John Thaxter, 25 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
My mamma has so often reminded me of a deficiency in politeness in not replying to your letter which is now too long out of date to answer, that I can no longer withstand her frequent solicit at ions, and an opportunity offering by Mr. Charles Storer I am prevailed upon to take your attention from more important subjects to the perusal of a letter which will afford no pleasure but as it will...
5090Jean de Neufville & Son to Abigail Adams, 25 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
We are honor’d with your Ladyship’s letter of the 15th Jany. last, and deem ourselves peculiarly unfortunate, not to have been more happy in the choice of the Color of Silk we sent you. ’Tis the more painful to us, as we can make no amends but by redoubling our attention and Vigilance, In the execution of your future Commands which we set so high a value on that we consider your Continuance of...
5091Enclosure: Invoice of Goods, 30 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
INVOICE of Sundries Shipped on board the Juno William Haydon Commander, bound for Boston. Consign’d to Mr. Isaac Smith Mercht. there, on order, and for Account of the honorable Lady Adams, in Braintree, mark’d, and number’d, as in margin Viz. No. 1 1 Box Containing No. 1 2 Damask Table Cloths 5 by 3 1/4 Ell at f.11 1/2 23 2 2 do. do. 1 1/2 by 3 1/4 at f. 10 1/4 20 10 3 2 do. do. 3 1/4 by 3...
5092Abigail Adams to Charles Adams, 26 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
I am sometimes affraid my dear Boy that you will be spoilt by being a favorite. Praise is a Dangerous Sweet unless properly tempered. If it does not make you arrogant, assuming and self sufficient, but on the contrary fires your Breast with Emulation to become still more worthy and engageing, it may not opperate to your Disadvantage. But if ever you feel your Little Bosom swell with pride and...
5093Abigail Adams to John Quincy Adams, 26 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
I hope this Letter will be more fortunate than yours have been of late. I know you must have written many times since I had the pleasure of receiving a line from you, for this month completes a year since the date of your last Letter. Not a line from you or my dear Charles since you arrived in Holland, where I suppose you still are. I never was more anxious to hear yet not a single vessel...
5094Abigail Adams to John Adams, 27 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have written so largely to you by Mr. Storer who goes in the same vessel, that I should not have taken up my pen again, but in compliance with the request of a Friend whose partner is going abroad, and desires a Letter to you as an introduction. Of Mr. Dexter the Bearer I know nothing but his Name. I have inclosed the Letter which I received from his partner who you know is a valuable...
5095John Thaxter to Abigail Adams, 27 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have been honoured with your favor of the 5th. February last. It would give me infinite Satisfaction to contribute in any way to your Enquiries into the Religion, Government, manners and Customs of this Country: and in some future Letter I will endeavour to give a small sketch (tho very imperfect) of them. The best History of this Country is in Dutch , and according to the Stile of the...
5096Abigail Adams to John Adams, 28 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
I could not have conceived that a Letter written upon merely political subjects could have communicated so much pleasure to my Bosom as yours of the 28th of December to the president, of Congress, has given to mine. This Letter was taken by the Enemy, carried into New York, and published by them, and republished by Edes. For what reason the Enemy published it I cannot tell, as it contains...
5097Richard Cranch to John Adams, 28 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
Having an Oportunity by Doctor Dexter, now bound to Europe, I gladly embrace it to write you a few Lines. We have been longing to hear from you a great while—not a line received from you or Mr. Thaxter for near six months. A Dutch War—Northern Powers arming for Defence of their Trade &c. are important Events since we last heard from you, which we wish to have an account of from you with your...
5098John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 29 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
I am two Letters, I believe in your Debt, but I have been too busily engaged, to be able to write you. I am pleased with the divisions of your time, which you tell your Brother you have lately made, which appears to be a judicious distribution of Study and Exercise, of Labour and Relaxation. But I want to have you, upon some higher Authors than Phaedrus and Nepos. I want to have you upon...
5099James Lovell to Abigail Adams, 29 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday’s Post brought me your Letters of the 10th and 14 with a Copy of March 17. on the Subject of which I shall be particular when I have a proper Opportunity. I have a Friend to whom I communicate most unreservedly all the Ocurrences which tend to govern my Pleasures and my Pains; your Letters will of Course be submitted in that mixt View: I have already hinted their Influence in the...
5100John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 30 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
If there are any extraordinary Productions of Nature or Art, exhibited, at the Fair of Leyden, write me an Account and a description of them, and insert them in your Journal. There were so many Rarities, at the Fair of Amsterdam, that I think these Fairs worth seeing. A Youth may store his Mind with many new Ideas, and with many usefull Reflections by attending to these Things. To open your...