851Elizabeth Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams, 25 April 1785 (Adams Papers)
Not to hear one word from Novem. to April seemed a very long space of Time, to One solicitous for the Welfare, and deeply interested in every-thing relative to, or that can affect the Happiness of a much loved Sister. I have this Week been made happy by receiving two charming Letters from you. It was a Repast my very Soul thirsted after. And as I am informed that a Vessel is to sail the last...
852John Thaxter to Abigail Adams, 15 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
On Monday Morning I had the Honor to go with his Excellency and Mr. D ana to breakfast with the celebrated Abbè Reynald, in Com pany with a large Collection of Nobility and Gentry of both Sexes. In opening upon this Company, (which was unexpected to poor me) I felt all that irksome Discomposure and painful Confusion, which so respectable an Assembly of Strangers could produce in one...
853John Thaxter to Abigail Adams, 6 March 1778 (Adams Papers)
Your much esteemed favor came to hand this day, in which you inform me of the departure of your “dearest Friend.” I sincerely wish for your sake it had been convenient and safe for you to have accompanied him: But the danger you mention must, I think, have made the voyage disagreeable and had the event taken place, doubly aggravating on his part.—I can picture to myself the separation and your...
854Elizabeth Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams, 2 May 1789 (Adams Papers)
By the News Papers, I find you have met with a temporary Loss—The United suffrages of my countrymen have once more taken my Brother Adams from you —from rural retirement—& the sweets of domestic Life, & again placed him in the political Hemisphere, where his merit—his knowledge—his patriotism—his virtue, will (I presume) shine with conspicuous Lustre, though surrounded by a multitude of bright...
855John Adams to Abigail Adams, 22 January 1794 (Adams Papers)
I am weary of this Scæne of Dulness. We have done nothing and Shall do nothing this Session, which ought to be done, unless We Should appropriate a Sufficient Sum of Money, for treating with the Algerines. We are afraid to go to War, though our Inclinations and Dispositions are Strong enough to join the French Republicans. It is happy that our Fears are a Check to our Resentments: and our...
856John Adams to Abigail Adams, 19 December 1794 (Adams Papers)
I promised you in my last an Account of the Commencement in the Methodists Meetinghouse north fourth st. near Vine street. But as a Bill which had some Allusion to the late Rebellion, and consequently interested the feelings of Parties, came on in Senate I could not get out of my Chair till three O Clock, and was therefore disappointed. I sent at once and bought the Books: but as I have made a...
857Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 2 July 1786 (Adams Papers)
I did not receive your last Letter by the way of new york till after the vessail had Sail’d with my Letters. I was much diverted to think the few Lines coll: smith wrote in your name should have produce’d you So long a Letter from Mr Cranch. The coll really counterfitted your hand writing very well. Betsy said as soon as she saw it, that it did not look just like aunts hand. If it was hers She...
858John Adams to Abigail Adams, 14 August 1783 (Adams Papers)
I have received your two favours of 7 May and 20 June. I had received no Letter from you for so long an Interval that these were really inestimable. I always learn more of Politicks from your Letters, than any others. I have lost all my Correspondents in Congress. I wrote to Mr. Jackson and Gen. Warren Supposing they were Members. Mr. Gerry is there now, to my Great Joy. Beg of him to write to...
859John Adams to Abigail Adams, 5 January 1797 (Adams Papers)
M rs Swan and her Daughters, conducted by M rs Otis came into the Senate Chamber this morning to see the Room and Pictures. There I had Opportunities to see for the first time the fair young Ladies. I send you Guillotina, the most wanton Muse of the whole ten.— dreadful Truths are told in jest— Dallas tho, innocent , Dallas is much injured. I have now rec d Votes from Kentucky the last state:...
860Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 30 December 1800 (Adams Papers)
Your kind letter of the 25 th: inst t: came by this day’s Mail. I have found a Coachee ready made, at Fielding’s for sale, which, with the alterations that can with ease & despatch be made, will, I think, answer your purpose exactly. The body of the Coachee is somewhat shorter & more in the form of a Coach, than that you have, but it is well put together & the wheels & carriage appear to be...
861Richard Cranch to Abigail Adams, 5 July 1786 (Adams Papers)
Capt. Cushing having informed me that he shall sail tomorrow, I have requested him to take the Charge of a small Packquett containing a few Letters and News-Papers, which he has promised to deliver with his own Hands. You will see in the Papers an Account of the surprizing progress of Art, and effect of Industry, exhibited in the Completion of the Bridge across Charlestown Ferry, which was...
862Charles Adams to Abigail Adams, 31 January 1796 (Adams Papers)
My Sister informs me that you have not lately heard from your sons in Holland and that you were anxious respecting them. I am happy to have it in my power to relieve your mind and to relate the cause of your not receiving intelligence from them. I have within these six weeks received a half a dozen letters from them some of a date as late as the 7 th of October They are in good health and...
863Isaac Smith Jr. to Abigail Adams, 21 February 1771 (Adams Papers)
Your kindness to me in a former absence, requires some acknowledgment in this. I write to you, therefore, with the view of repaying an obligation, not of giving you any entertainment. After a short, tho’ not a very comfortable passage over the Atlantic, I landed at Dover, a town remarkable for nothing but extortion, except the Castle, which was originally founded by Julius Caesar, and...
864Elizabeth Palmer Cranch to Abigail Adams, 27 December 1799 (Adams Papers)
M r: Cranch has taken the liberty to address a short letter to the President containing a desire to be tho’t of in the various appointments now making in the line of his business— as he did not chuse to trouble the President with any details—embolden’d by your known condescention I have taken the pen to observe that since M r Cranch’s letter to my Uncle—relative to the Armory at Harpers Ferry...
865John Adams to Abigail Adams, 17 March 1776 (Adams Papers)
Our worthy Friend Frank Dana arrived here last Evening from N. York, to which Place he came lately from England in the Packet. In Company with him, is a Gentleman by the Name of Wrixon, who has been a Field Officer in the British Army, served all the last War in Germany, and has seen service in every Part of Europe. He left the Army some time ago, and studied Law in the Temple, in which...
866Charles Adams to Abigail Adams, 22 April 1792 (Adams Papers)
The pamphlet you have been so kind as to send me has met with much approbation here. The boldness of the diction receives accumulated vigor from the too serious truths which it conveys. I think however something better might have been written upon those subjects. There is most certainly too much local partiality in the administration of our Government. People in this part of the world begin to...
867Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 14 May 1792 (Adams Papers)
I received your kind letter of the 6 th: this Evening, and feel happy that you advanced so far on your Journey, without receiving any injury. I was somewhat anxious for your health, but the favorable account you give, has relieved me in a measure from the apprehension. I hope you may enjoy it much more this Summer than the last. The directions left with me respecting M r: Harrison, are...
868William Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams, 12 December 1798 (Adams Papers)
The president received two letters the latest dated 3 d of Dec from you last Evening with a letter inclosed for your son at Berlin which, I shall superscribe and deliver to Mr Pickering with your respects with a great deal of pleasure. I am very sorry to see that you were not so well as you were when you wrote the 25 th of Nov. You do not write in half so good spirits. I find Mr. Otiss family...
869Cotton Tufts to Abigail Adams, 20–24 September 1787 (Adams Papers)
Yours & M r. Adams of the 1 t. & Yours of the 4 th. of July I rec d. the 6 th. Inst. the former by a British Vessell the latter by the Way of New York— being then in Boston, I immediately applied to our Friend D r. Wilch to prepare the Way for the Purchase of Borlands Farm thinking it best to conceal your Name, till we were sure of accomplishing the Business— The D r. applied and found that M...
870Elizabeth Cranch to Abigail Adams, 5 September 1785 (Adams Papers)
My Papa came in this evening and brought a great Letter directed to Mama, superscrib’d by my Uncle Adams. Mama is at Braintree, we had no Letters to satisfy us. The Pacquet was laid upon the table. I took it up, examined the seal, and wanted much to get at the contents, then took the stocking, (which I was lining the Heel of for your Charles), and work’d upon it a little, all the time...
871John Thaxter to Abigail Adams, 19 September 1780 (Adams Papers)
A few days since I had the honor of a letter from Mr. A., who I have the pleasure to inform You is well with his two Sons. Mr. Dana is gone also to Amsterdam—he left Paris the 12th instant. What his Object is I know not—his determination was sudden and unexpected, and occasioned by the Arrival of Mr. Searle, but this by the bye. I am left here of Course a miserable, solitary lonely Being,...
872Cotton Tufts to Abigail Adams, 20 December 1789 (Adams Papers)
Yours of the 22 d. I rec d. on Sunday last, by Gen Lincoln— the several Articles You requested me to procure I shall collect as soon as possible— I have made Enquiry for Butter but have not met with any that is good a considerable Quantity has been sent to New York by a Vessel that saild a day or two past— It is somewhat doubtful whether I shall be able to buy the Hams already prepared, if not...
873Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 30 September 1787 (Adams Papers)
I went to Boston last Monday & there found that Barnard had arriv’d & brought me Letters both from you & Mrs Smith— I carre’d all mine for you & put them on board Folger—who said he should sail immediatly, but I hear he will not till next Teusday. I thought I had said every thing & told you all you would wish to know in my large Pacquet—but your Letter has given me new subjects—& first let me...
874John Adams to Abigail Adams, 24 April 1797 (Adams Papers)
This day you promis’d me to begin your Journey: but if the Weather is as disagreable with you as it is here, I could not exact the fullfillment of the Engagement. I fear you will have bad roads and unpleasant Weather. You talk of your Perplexities and say you must get out of them yourself. Do you think mine less severe, public or private? My dear and venerable Mother— Alass— I feel for her.—...
875John Adams to Abigail Adams, 18 December 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have Letters from Mr. Dana and his young Attendant, at St. Petersbourg. Both well and in good Spirits. Letters to Mrs. D. and to you go by Captn. Troubridge and by Dr. Dexter. I have no certain News, as yet of Charles’s Sailing from Bilbao, but I presume he is sailed. You will have suffered great Anxiety on his Account, but I pray he may arrive safe. I acted for the best when I consented he...
876Charles Storer to Abigail Adams, 8 November 1782 (Adams Papers)
I have taken the liberty to enclose a line to my Papa, under cover of yours; knowing it will go more expeditiously as well as safely— to your Excellency —than by itself, and presuming upon your goodness to excuse it. Let me request you to forward it to Boston as soon as may be convenient, and to accept my thanks therefor. Permit me to congratulate you on the Event, of which Mr. A. has given...
877Mercy Otis Warren to Abigail Adams, 14 October 1778 (Adams Papers)
The importunity of my Friends at Braintree, though my inclination is strong, is not sufficient to Carry me again from my Family till a Little more time is Elapsed. We therefore instead of indulging our own Wishs substitute a son who will be happy to Escort you, and in whose Bosom Curiosity is or ought to be as much alive as in that of his parents. You will doubtless have an agreable day. I can...
878James Lovell to Abigail Adams, 16 June 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have already acknowledged the Receipt of your Letter of May 10th covering a Copy of March 17th, and accompanied by one of May 14th. I think I told you I would be more particular, at some future Day, in considering certain Parts of them. I meant to do it by Cyphers; but the present Opportunity renders that mode needless. Genl. Ward will probably take a safe Road for himself and consequently...
879Abigail Adams Smith to Abigail Adams, 9 February 1793 (Adams Papers)
It is with very great pleasure that I address you, my dear mamma, from this place again. You will be as agreeably surprised as our friends here were, the evening before the last, to see us, and find us safe at New-York; for our arrival was wholly unexpected to them. We avoided informing our friends of our intentions, knowing that their anxious solicitude for our safety would render them...
880John Eliot to Abigail Adams, October 1778 (Adams Papers)
You did not see fit to send the letter you proposed for the conveyance of Mr. Ingram. Perhaps it was owing to the supposition that it would arrive too late.—Lest that was the case, I would inform you that Mr. I. is still detained in expectation of his Vessell from the Eastward, and it is more than probable that he will tarry till the middle of next week. I hope in mercy the British Cruiser...
881Thomas Jefferson to Abigail Adams, 7 July 1785 (Adams Papers)
I had the honour of writing you on the 21st. of June, but the letter being full of treason, has waited a private conveiance. Since that date there has been received for you at Auteuil a cask of about 60. gallons of wine. I would have examined it’s quality and have ventured to decide on it’s disposal, but it is in a cask within a cask, and therefore cannot be got at but by operations which...
882John Adams to Abigail Adams, 17 February 1793 (Adams Papers)
We have had Such falls of Snow and rain that I Suppose the Mail has been retarded and I have no Letters; and you may be in the same Case. I have written however as regularly as usual. I have no Letters nor Message from our dear Family at N. York Since their arrival excepting a Line from Charles the next morning announcing it. another fort night and I shall sett out on my return home I shall...
883John Adams to Abigail Adams, 6 May 1777 (Adams Papers)
We have no News here but what comes from you—except that all is well and quiet at Ticonderoga, that We have four Thousand Troops there, and that they were not afraid of Carlton. The Connecticutt People have given Sir Wm. Erskine a Concord and Lexington Drubbing. But I am very angry at our People for mak ing a Magazine, so near the Water and among such a Gang of high Church Tories. The Loss...
884John Thaxter to Abigail Adams, 16 May 1778 (Adams Papers)
I do myself the honor to inclose the postscript to Hall & Sellers’s Paper of the 9th instant containing the message of the undersigned Ambassador of the Court of France to the Court of London; his Majesty’s Speech in Consequence &c. &c. The message is couched in terms very ludicrous and merry. It also speaks tacitly the Power and determination of France. It has chagrined the King and Ministry...
885John Adams to Abigail Adams, 29 January 1795 (Adams Papers)
The public Prints, announce the Death of my old esteemed Friend General Roberdeau, whose Virtues in heart Searching Times endeared him to Philadelphia and to his Country. His friendly Attention to me, when Congress held their Sessions at York Town, I can never forget, and excites a more lively Interest in his Loss than that of some others who have lately gone before him. M r King is re-elected...
886Mercy Otis Warren to Abigail Adams, 30 July 1788 (Adams Papers)
one line by my son inquires after the health of my Friend, at Braintree. do you begin to feel at home. & will you not after becoming a little Domesticateed in your native town think of an excursion to plimouth where you will find the same Friend, the same hospitality & undissembleed affection which in my opinion Gives the truest Zest to human life. you have seen all the Varietiy. & perhaps...
887John Adams to Abigail Adams, 10 May 1777 (Adams Papers)
We have at last accomplished a troublesome Piece of Business. We have chosen a Number of additional Ambassadors. Mr. Ralph Izzard of S. Carolina, a Gentleman of large Fortune, for the Court of the Grand Duke of Tuscany, and Mr. William Lee, formerly Alderman of London, for the Courts of Vienna and Berlin. LbC ( Adams Papers ). There is no indication that this letter was sent or received. JA...
888John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 24 May 1778 (Adams Papers)
I now having an opportunity which to my Satisfaction I have much oftener than I expected when I first came here, in which I improve every time I can in writing to you who has always been so kind a Mamma to me. I last night went to the theatre, after we had got there we found there was no places empty upon which we came home again. RC ( Adams Papers ); addressed in JA ’s hand: “Mrs. John Adams...
889Cotton Tufts to Abigail Adams, 1 December 1784 (Adams Papers)
Your letter from Autueil near Paris of Sept. 8 gave me great Pleasure as it assured me of Your safe Arrival in France and of Your being once more in a Family State with the dear Partner of Your Life—whose arduous Labours and pressing Cares will be greatly alleviated, a Happiness which He has undoubtedly long wished for; and which the peculiar Scituation of Things prevented. May You both enjoy...
890James Lovell to Abigail Adams, 13 January 1780 (Adams Papers)
I send you a Continuance of the Journals. The Printer having lately made a Mistake in the Course of sending me the Sheets of 1778, I was led to think he had done so before, as to that which I have written to you about already, called by him H; I therefore now put up one, as well as M.N. which I am certain were not before inclosed to you. I would have you send all forward to our Friend, unless...
891From Thomas Jefferson to Abigail Adams, 10 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
This being the day on which, according to my calculation, my daughter would be crossing the channel, I had calculated the course from Dover to Calais and was watching the wind when your favour of the 6th. was put into my hands. That of June 27. had been received four days ago. I perceived that that had happened which I had apprehended, that your goodness had so attached her to you that her...
892William Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams, 25 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
I have had the pleasure to receive your very kind letter of the 14 th of Feb. at Baltimore, for which I pray you to receive the grateful offerings of an honest heart. I should not have neglected answering it, till this late date, had I not been uncommonly occupied in business, and had nothing to tell you, but what I wrote to Mr. Adams, whose letters I presume you have seen Soon after you left...
893Benjamin Waterhouse to Abigail Adams, 10 September 1782 (Adams Papers)
When I was at Braintree I mentioned to you that I was pretty certain I had a letter from Mr. Adams to you, among my papers which I left behind at N. York and that when my trunk arrived I would carefully examine it and send it to you. I have done so, but without success. I therefore conclude if there was one, the Goths have taken it. We hear there is a Vessel arrived at Boston from Amsterdam;...
894Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 20 August 1774 (Adams Papers)
I thank you my dear Sister for all your kind offers. I have not been able yet to get Miss Dolly Read. I expected her yesterday: but what has prevented I cant say. As to moving, we want to see Mr. Russel before we talk again with Mr. Cleavely. Mr. Cranch is so hurried with Work that he does not know how to spare time to see after any thing, and I am so unwell that I am not able too. I do not...
895Joseph 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....
896John Adams to Abigail Adams, 7 February 1777 (Adams Papers)
I am at last after a great deal of Difficulty, settled in comfortable Quarters, but at an infinite Expence. . . . The Price I pay for my Board is more moderate than any other Gentlemen give, excepting my Colleagues, who are all in the same Quarters, and at the same Rates except Mr. H ancock who keeps an House by himself. The Prices of Things here, are much more intollerable than at Boston. The...
897Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 19 October 1799 (Adams Papers)
I was very glad to hear by the Letter you sent me from Brookfield, that you had got Safely so far. the week prov’d so Stormy & disagreable I was affraid I Should hear you were Sick. this week has been in general So pleasant excepting one day very windy that I hope you are Safe at eastchester this evening, & that the President is recover’d from his cold. your children well & the Sweet Caroline...
898John Adams to Abigail Adams, 16 January 1799 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday, Tuesday when the Levee Room began to be thin Brisler came running in, with the delightful sounds “Sir, Mr Adams is up Stairs.” I was not long in mounting the escalier and had the high Pleasure of embracing my dear son Thomas after an Absence of four years & an half.— We had a very happy Evening and he has had a good nights rest after the fatigues of his Voyage & Journey. He seems in...
899James Lovell to Abigail Adams, 16 July 1779 (Adams Papers)
March 6 1779. “Our friend my late Colleague means to embark soon and from him you will learn the State of our Affairs here. Mr. Izard and myself would have accompanyed him had not our Commissions prevented us.” The above is an Extract from a Letter of Ar. Lee to Mr. S. Adams and tho Mr. Lee writes afterwards on April 6th. yet it was a very short Letter of Information concerning the Enemys Plan...
900John Adams to Abigail Adams, 4 December 1796 (Adams Papers)
After Spending a Day and a Night at East Chester with our Children there and another at Newyork with our Children there I came to this City on Fryday night after a cold ride of 80 miles from Elizabeth Town. There are great Complaints of Want of Water for grinding, for Cattle and for Families through the whole Country. Yesterday I dined with the President in Company with John Watts the King of...