521Abigail Adams to John Briesler, 1 February 1797 (Adams Papers)
I last Evening received a Letter from You in which You express an anxiety at the prospect of being seperated from Your Family. I know too well how painfull a situation that is, to have any desire, to inflict so great an hardship upon any one, unless through necessity. The uncertainty how the Election would terminate, has prevented me, from saying any thing to You, or to your Wife upon the...
522Abigail Adams to John Adams, 7 May 1776 (Adams Papers)
How many are the solitary hours I spend, ruminating upon the past, and anticipating the future, whilst you overwhelmd with the cares of State, have but few moments you can devote to any individual. All domestick pleasures and injoyments are absorbed in the great and important duty you owe your Country “for our Country is as it were a secondary God, and the First and greatest parent. It is to...
523Abigail Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 14 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
I wrote to you last Evening requesting You to meet me at the susquahanah; but I did not reflect that it was two days Journey. this Evening Leiut Parker has arrived and has tenderd me his services; Mr Evans furnishes me with a carriage to Philadelphia provided we can cross the River if I cannot get over, I must depend upon the chapter of chances— if I can get over I expect to be in on twesday....
524Abigail Adams to Cotton Tufts, 21 February 1800 (Adams Papers)
I take this opportunity by dr Morse to inclose to you two Hundred dollors towards the building; as soon in March as it can be framed and raised I wish to have it begun upon, and as many hands employd as can be usefully. I do not want to have any part of it, to do after the Presidents return. Congress talk of rising in April, tho I do not myself expect that they will so soon I hope Myself to be...
525Abigail 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...
526Abigail Adams to John Adams, 6 February 1797 (Adams Papers)
The heavey rain & thaw to day will prevent my getting my Letters to Town to go by the post, to that cause you must attribute it. This Month is a short one, and March will soon be upon you with its new Duties, with its load of care, and perplexities. those of a Domestick kind I would relieve you from as much as possible, Yet wish to consult You upon them. in the first place, what is to be Done...
527Abigail Adams to John Adams, 14 May 1776 (Adams Papers)
I set down to write you a Letter wholy Domestick without one word of politicks or any thing of the Kind, and tho you may have matters of infinately more importance before you, yet let it come as a relaxation to you. Know then that we have had a very cold backward Spring, till about ten days past when every thing looks finely. We have had fine Spring rains which makes the Husbandary promise...
528Abigail Adams to Isaac Smith Sr., 8 April 1786 (Adams Papers)
The Barrel of Cramberries you was so kind as to send me in the fall never reachd me till this week, oweing to Captain Youngs long passage and being obliged to put into port to repair the ship, he did not get up to London till about a Week ago. The Cramberries I believe were very fine by the Appearance of the few which remain; and would have proved a most acceptable present if they had arrived...
529Abigail Adams to John Adams, 26 November 1792 (Adams Papers)
Such has been the weather Since you left me, that I cannot form any accurate judgment where you now are. I sometimes conjecture that you are not farther than Brookfield. at any rate you must have had an unpleasent week, tho perhaps not so severe a snow storm as we have had here. Monday afternoon & all twesday it raind then cleard up very cold and blustering. on fryday came on a snow storm wind...
530Tuesday July 6th. (Adams Papers)
I was not able to write yesterday the wind blew so fresh; and not very fair, so that there was too much motion of the Ship. In the afternoon it came on rainy, and continued so through the night, this morning a small north east wind cloudy and unpleasent. Whilst our Friends on shore are melting under a mid Summer Sun; there has been no day so warm at Sea; but what I could wear a double calico...
531Abigail Adams to John Quincy Adams, 29 November 1795 (Adams Papers)
The last Letter which has come to hand from you, was dated 27 July, now four Month. I begin to grow impatient to hear from you. I have lately sent my Letters by Way of England, where it is confidently said you are, and from whence I expect, to hear from you I wrote to you not long since by a private Hand a mr Wilder from N Hampshire. by him I sent you some of Websters papers containing col...
532Abigail Adams to John Quincy Adams, 18 April 1791 (Adams Papers)
owing to an accident your Letter of April 1 t did not reach us till the 14 th I have got the power compleated and inclose it to the dr. I hope your trunk & the Porter which accompanied it came safe to Hand. I put in an article or two upon the top of the Trunk which if any opportunity offers you may send to Braintree. the Porter was directed to the care of mr Smith but I did not as I ought...
533Abigail Adams to Abigail Adams Smith, 11 April 1798 (Adams Papers)
I received your two letters of April 5th and 7th, yesterday, and I enclosed you two from the children, in a letter to your brother this week, receiving them on that day; and not having time to write to you, before the post went. I do not think I have so frequently written to you for a month past, as I did through the winter; and it is because I have felt less anxious for you since the Col.’s...
534Abigail Adams to John Adams, 27 May 1794 (Adams Papers)
Thanks to the Father of the Rain, and the Bountifull dispencer of the dews of Heaven, who has plentifully waterd the dry and thirsty Earth. the Fields recover their verdure, and the little Hills rejoice. the drooping vine rears its head and the witherd flower Blooms anew. Indeed my dearest Friend it would rejoice your Heart to behold the change made in the appearene of all Nature, after one of...
535Abigail Adams to Cotton Tufts, 14 April 1798 (Adams Papers)
I sent you a pamphlet containing the instructions to our Envoys, and I now inclose the dispatches from them. no Event Since our unhappy controversey with France, has so throughly awakend the people to a sense of their danger as these dispatches; nor any imprest them with such strong conviction of the sincerity and candour, with which our Government has sought peace upon fair and honorable...
536Abigail Adams to John Adams, 29 May 1787 (Adams Papers)
I received mr Cuttings Letter on Monday morning, and was glad to find you had stoped Short of Hardwick. I prognosticated from the wind on saturday that you made your passage by nine or ten on sunday morning. I commisirated your sickness, and that I might feelingly sympathize with you, used mr Hollis’s prescription yesterday morning, finding a return of some of my former complaints. the effect...
537Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 19 June 1789 (Adams Papers)
This day is the Aniversary of my Landing in Boston and Tomorrow that of my departure from it. many are the mercies I have to be thankfull for through all my Perigranations, all the painfull scenes I have past through, has been the temporary seperation from my Friends, fatigue either of Body or Mind I scarcly name amongst them for I have my pleasures and gratifications which I set down as a...
538Abigail Adams to John Adams, 25 June 1775 (Adams Papers)
My Father has been more affected with the distruction of Charlstown, than with any thing which has heretofore taken place. Why should not his countanance be sad when the city, the place of his Fathers Sepulchers lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire, scarcly one stone remaineth upon an other. But in the midst of sorrow we have abundant cause of thankfulness that so few of...
539Abigail Adams to John Adams, 13 March 1797 (Adams Papers)
Dr Tufts has been consulted by me respecting the leaseing our places, and we have come to an agreement with the Tennants, who in proportion to the rise of Labour & produce, Annually expect more & more indulgences. a Farmer cannot be content with the profits he once made. he will tell you, the Day Labourer fares better, which is true. I meet with so many difficulties, that I wish Sometimes that...
540Abigail Adams to Elizabeth Storer Smith, 29 August 1785 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Storer your worthy Nephew will be the Bearer of this Letter. I congratulate his Friends upon his return to them, after several Years absence, tho we shall essentially feel his loss, being as much attached to him as if he was our own. The appointment of a secretary of Legation prevents Mr. Adams from taking any other, which he realy stands in need of. If he had been allowed one, Mr. Storer...
541Abigail Adams to Abigail Adams Smith, 21–28 November 1790 (Adams Papers)
I suppose you wish to hear from me and from your little boy. He is very well, and very amusing, as usual; talks of William, and of the other papa; is as fond as ever of the “fosses,” and has a great edition to his amusement and pleasures from a flock of sheep, which are daily pastured by a shepherd and his dog upon the lawn in front of our house. Bush Hill, as it is called, though by the way...
542Abigail Adams to John Adams, 19 April 1794 (Adams Papers)
A memorable day in our Annals, which is all I shall say of politicks here. the season is very variable from hot to cold & cold to Hot, and much too dry; it has not raind since my poor furniture had such a share of it. the Trees just begin to Bud, and the ground to put on some little verdure. Faxon moved off two days ago and shaw removed in. we are getting things arranged as well as we can. I...
543Abigail Adams to James Lovell, 30 June 1778 (Adams Papers)
As I have so often troubled you with my fears tis a debt I owe your patience to communicate to you my happiness. To a Heart so susceptible as the person I address I need not discribe the joy I experienced this day in receiving Letters from my dear absent Friend informing me of his Safety and Health. He arrived at Beaudeaux the begining of April and reachd Paris the 8th, but I know not what...
544Abigail Adams to John Adams, 2 March 1796 (Adams Papers)
Our Little Town of Quincy is become so rich that they can vote a Thousand Dollors to Build a School House, Yet cannot pay a Tax to their Minister which has been Due for more than two years. Your proportion of the Tax for the present Year including your part of the 300 for the School house is 187 Dollors 30 cents. the Braintree Tax I have not yet seen. both the collector & the School committe...
545Abigail Adams to Cotton Tufts, 8 March 1785 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Adams received last Evening a Letter from you dated January 1st, in which you inform him of some little purchases which are very agreeable to him. I wrote you by his consent in January respecting Mr. Alleynes Farm. I suppose my Letters have not yet reachd America, as Captain Young has been detained Months in England longer than was expected. We are a little alarmed at the Hazard we have...
546Abigail Adams to John Adams, 1 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
I had scarcly closed my packet to you when I received your Letters dated Ferrol and Corunna. I am happy indeed in your safe arrival and escape from the danger which threatned you. I feel glad that you have determined to proceed by land tho so tedious and expensive a journey. I grow more and more apprehensive of the dangers of the sea, tho I have really no Right to Quarrel with old Neptune,...
547Abigail Adams to John Adams, 12 January 1794 (Adams Papers)
My Neighbour captain Beals went to Town yesterday and was so good as to bring up, and send me my Letters last Evening, whilst I was sitting mourning that I had no hope of getting them, as the travelling was very bad and the Day stormy. I find the Family an agreable acquisition. we live upon friendly & social terms. I agree with mr Izzard, that we are grown too old to live seperate, and I could...
548Abigail 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...
549Abigail Adams to William Smith, 23 October 1797 (Adams Papers)
As you was absent when I left home I was unable to pay you for some articles which you had purchased for me, as well as some which mrs smith had procured for me. if you will be so good as to forward me the amount, I will transmit it to you— When I pay’d mr Fothingham for the Carriage, there were the quarter Lights and some other matters which made the carriage amount to more than our first...
550Abigail Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 13 December 1802 (Adams Papers)
I was in Boston at your Brothers when Mr Shaw received Your Letters. according to the direction given him, he deliverd them. your Letter of Nov br 24 th in some measure discloses the motives which have opperated to fasten You to the Spot where You now reside. Rumour has been buisy in reports of your design to Change Your situation, but as I could not learn who the object was, I gave not any...
551Abigail Adams to John Adams, 26 March 1777 (Adams Papers)
I this morning Received yours of March 7 favourd by Dr. Jackson. I rejoice to hear you are so comfortable. Col. Palmer informd me a Sunday that he is going to morrow as far as the Jersies being one of a Committe sent by our assembly to know of the General what proportion of Continental Troops will be allowed to this State; and does not know but he shall be obligd to proceed as far as...
552Abigail Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 25 December 1800 (Adams Papers)
We have public worship every Sunday in the Representitive’s Chamber in the Capitol; I have just returnd from hearing Bishop Clagget deliver a discourse from those words in the Gosple of st Luke, [“]Glory to God in the highest Peace on Earth, and Good Will to Men.” this is a doctrine full of Mercy and benevolence, of which the present generation appear little disposed to cultivate and cherish.—...
553Abigail Adams to Hugh Hill, 16 April 1782 (Adams Papers)
The day after my Son reachd home I wrote to you and requested you would inform me what I was indebted to you for my Sons passage. I had inquired of Major Jackson, who said he made no particular agreement respecting him; but that if I would write he would take charge of the Letter, and deliver it himself. I accordingly wrote and requested you to direct a Letter to me; to be left at Isaac Smiths...
554Abigail Adams to John Adams, 25 December 1780 (Adams Papers)
How much is comprised in that short sentance? How fondly can I call you mine, bound by every tie, which consecrates the most inviolable Friendship, yet seperated by a cruel destiny, I feel the pangs of absence sometimes too sensibly for my own repose. There are times when the heart is peculiarly awake to tender impressions, when philosophy slumbers, or is overpowerd by sentiments more...
555Abigail Adams to John Adams, 21 February 1776 (Adams Papers)
Tis a month this day since you left me, and this is the first time I have taken my pen to write to you. My conscience accuses me, but I have waited in hopes of having something worth saying to you, some event worth relating; but it has been a dead calm of dull repose. No event of any importance upon either side excepting the burning of some houses by the Enemy upon Dorchester Neck has taken...
556Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 25–29 March 1792 (Adams Papers)
I received your kind Letter of march eleventh yesterday. I wrote to you last week which was the first time I had been permitted to use my pen, or indeed was able too, for six weeks. I have not yet been out of my chamber. the weather has been very unfavourable this Month. I was to have tried the carriage to day but the weather is against me. I am so feeble & faint, if I move that I do not think...
557Abigail Adams to Louisa Catherine Adams, 8 March 1802 (Adams Papers)
The Mountains have vanished, and the ground is again bare in most places. the roads are excessive rough, and the weather uncommonly cold for March. I hope it will Soften & the Roads become Smoother, before Saturday when I shall send in the carriage for you. I do not think that George will have the Measles. I thought that Eepps Voyage to England, would end in a matrimonial engagement in Boston...
558Abigail Adams to John Adams, 21 September 1777 (Adams Papers)
I immagine before this reaches you some very important Event must take place betwen the two Armies. Affairs on all Sides seem to be workd up to a crisis, How is putting his whole force in action and seems determined to drive or be driven. I feel in a most painfull situation between hope and fear, there must be fighting and very Bloody Battles too I apprehend. O! how my Heart recoils at the...
559Abigail Adams to John Adams, 14 November 1789 (Adams Papers)
I received yours of Nov br 4. on thursday last. Brisler and his Family got here the same Day & are waiting the arrival of Barnard to go into their House. the President got home on fryday last, looks much fatigued with his jouney, and has beat out all his Horses. Brisler says the Roads are getting very bad, and that you will find it very tedious travelling in a few weeks pray take care that...
560July [24–]25 (Adams Papers)
We left this village and proceeded on our way to Blanford where we put up for the Night. Saw nothing striking in this place and met with poor accommodations oweing chiefly to the Assizes, which were to commence the next Day and the House was nearly occupied when we arrived. We stayd only untill the next morning and then persued our route. Arrived at diner time at Dorchester an other very old...
561Abigail Adams to Elizabeth Cranch, 2 September 1785 (Adams Papers)
At the Bath hotel I received my dear Neices Letter of April. I have told your Sister and other Friends why I did not write then, but I should have no excuse to give if I omitted so good an opportunity as now offers by Mr. Storer. This day two months ago we removed here, where I should be much delighted if I could have my Sisters my Cousins and connections round me, but for want of them every...
562Abigail Adams to Cotton Tufts, 22 November 1789 (Adams Papers)
I congratulate you and the Lady to whom you are united upon your Nuptials, and most sincerely wish you a renewall of all your former happiness, with corresponding dispositions, and inclinations. the domestick circle is alone capable of yealding satisfactions, which an intercourse with the word and all its amusements never can afford. in Buisness or in pleasure the participation of a dear...
563Abigail Adams to William Smith, 2 March 1798 (Adams Papers)
The President received your Letter this morning dated 5 Feb’ry. the Rule of the former President not to answer Letters of this nature, he has abided by. his Rule is to place all Canditates for office upon a Book kept for that purpose, and to appoint to office such persons as come best recommended for abilities integrity and industery. in your case he would be particuliarly delicate, for as he...
564Abigail Adams to William Smith, 21 April 1797 (Adams Papers)
The Death of my Mother which took place this afternoon very suddenly, will prevent my Sitting out on my journey as I had intended on twesday. we propose to burry her on Monday. I do not think I can get away untill thursday. I shall therefore omit sending Beckey untill fryday. I would wish two places engaged in the Stage as I have an other Girl to go with her, and should like to have them under...
565Abigail Adams to Benjamin Rush, 18 October 1800 (Adams Papers)
I acknowledge the receipt of Your two favors one of the 9th and one of the 13 th . I am sorry You have felt yourself So much hurt by the report of a Man, whose object is apparent to every candid Mind. he feels himself an appostate, and like the first appostate, he is ready to curse those beams of light and truth which Show the height from which he has fallen. To be wounded in the House of our...
566Abigail Adams to John Adams, 9 December 1781 (Adams Papers)
I hear the Alliance is again going to France with the Marquis Fayett and the Count de Noiales. I will not envy the Marquis the pleasure of Annually visiting his family, considering the risk he runs in doing it. Besides he deserves the good wishes of every American and a large portion of the Honours and applause of his own Country. He returns with the additional Merrit of Laurels won at York...
567Abigail Adams to William Stephens Smith, 3 May 1801 (Adams Papers)
I have to acknowledge the receipt of the raspberry bushes, and the pot of strawberry vines, for which accept my thanks. I have had them placed in a good part of the garden, and shall pay particular attention to them. I hope I shall be able to treat you with a plate of them, when I shall have the pleasure of seeing you at Quincy. Whatever strange events occur in the political world, I think...
568Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 1774 (Adams Papers)
I was yesterday at Weymouth where I received your Letter, and the saffron risbands &c. I thank you and Cousin Betsy both; I expect you a thursday, but from all I can find out, I do not think the visit will be to any purpose; there seems to me to be at present a real aversion to change of state. having quited one has no inclination for an other; so things look to me. I am really sorry upon all...
569Abigail Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 4 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
I received your two Letters together of August 26 th . I have every day since designd to write to you, but have not been very well. I do not know the cause yet for many years, the Month of sep’ br has depressed my Spirits more than any other. I believe it always brings with it, some dregs of the old Ague and fever— I most sincerely mourn for the distressess of N york and Philadelphia; but know...
570Abigail Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 3 February 1775 (Adams Papers)
The die is cast. Yesterday brought us such a Speach from the Throne as will stain with everlasting infamy the reign of G e orge the 3 determined to carry into Execution “the acts passd by the late parliment, and to Mantain the authority of the Legislature over all his dominions.” The reply of the house of commons and the house of Lords shew us the most wicked and hostile measures will be...