Adams Family Correspondence Volume 8, March 1787 – December 1789 Front Matter Copyright Sponsorship Administrative and Editorial Committees Descriptive List of Illustrations Introduction Guide to Editorial Apparatus Documents 7 March 1787Abigail Adams to John CranchDear sir; your obliging Letter of November 7th. came safe to hand, as well as a couple of Hares since Received, for which accept my acknowledgments: ... 8 March 1787Abigail Adams to Mary Smith CranchMy dear sister It was not untill yesterday that captain Callihan brought us the bundle containing Newspapers and some Letters, one from my Neice, but... 10 March 1787Abigail Adams to Elizabeth Smith ShawMy dear Sister Tho I have already acknowledged all your Letters, I will not let captain Scoet sail without a few lines from me, I had not time to wri... 10 March 1787Abigail Adams to Cotton TuftsDear sir your Letters by Captain Callihan did not come to hand untill the 7th ult. and I embrace the earliest opportunity of writing you. in yours yo... 12 March 1787Abigail Adams to Isaac Smith Sr.My dear sir I have sent by Captain Scott the Books you wrote for, and if there is any thing else in which I can serve either you or my cousins, I sha... 15 March 1787Abigail Adams to Thomas Boylston AdamsDear Tommy I would not omit writing you, because you seem to think you have been agrieved. I do not recollect what I wrote you, but I have Some Idea,... 20 March 1787Abigail Adams to John Quincy AdamsMy dear Son I have procured the Books for you, and Captain Folger not sailing quite so soon as I expected, I have sent them to mr Boylstones Store re... 12 April 1787Mary Rutledge Smith to Abigail AdamsMy dear Madam I have the happiness to inform you that we are again settled, in Charleston, we had a Passage of seven weeks, it was as you may suppose... 22 April 178720 May 1787Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail AdamsMy Dear Sister Captain Cushing arriv'd last Monday after a tedious Passage It was so long since I receiv'd any Letters from you that I began to be ve... 25 April 1787John Brown Cutting to Abigail AdamsDear Madam It may perhaps afford you satisfaction to learn that Mr Adams and his secretary pro tempore arrived at the Crown Inn within the ramparts o... 26 April 1787Abigail Adams to Lucy Cranchmy dear Neice I write you a few lines my dear Lucy to thank you for your kind Letter, and to inform you that I am a Grandmamma! my Grandson be sure i... 26 April 1787William Stephens Smith to Abigail Adams Smith I dare say, my friend, when you receive this, you will think I have moved with great rapidity. There have but two things occurred on the road which a... 28 April 1787Abigail Adams to Mary Smith CranchMy dear sister I have now to acknowledge your kind favour of April 7th by Captain Folger— I have already written to my Neices and informed them of th... 29 April 1787Abigail Adams to Cotton Tuftsmy dear sir. yours of Febry 6th did not reach me untill Folger had saild. I take the first opportunity to write you respecting the vermont land. I th... 2 May 1787Abigail Adams to Elizabeth Smith Shawmy dear sister mr Blodget is going passenger in Captain Callihan and has offerd to take a Letter to you, who are his great favorite. he will be able ... 6 May 1787Abigail Adams to John Quincy AdamsMy dear son I would not omit writing you by captain Callihan, as your sister is unable to perform that office herself. I know you will be anxious to ... 10 May 1787Abigail Adams to Richard CranchDear sir Inclosed Sir I send you the Review of the defence of the American constitution, which if you please you may have published in the Boston pap... 11 May 1787Abigail Adams to Mary Smith CranchMy dear sister Captain Callihans delay gives me an other opportunity of writing you, tho I have nothing material to add, but that I have pleasd my fa... 14 May 1787Abigail Adams to Mercy Otis Warrenmy dear Madam I have lately been reading Mrs Montague's essays upon the Genious and writings of shakspear, and I am so well pleased with them; that I... 20 May 1787Elizabeth Smith Shaw to Abigail AdamsMy Dear Sister— Yours of July 19th which either did, or was to have come in Callihan last Fall, I did not receive 'till the 6th of March—where it had... 21 May 1787Cotton Tufts to Abigail AdamsDear Con. I recd. your several Letters of Jany. 24. Feby. 8t & March the 10th. by Cushing, Barnard & Scott who all arrived in the latter End of April... 24 May 1787Richard Cranch to John AdamsMy dear Bror. I herewith send you the News-Papers by which you will see the state of our publick proceedings. Our most excellent Governor Mr. Bowdoin... 27 May 1787Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail AdamsMy dear Sister I went to Boston yesterday & had the mortification to find my Letters did not go by Barnard or Davis although they had been on Board e... 28 May 1787John Brown Cutting to Abigail AdamsDear Madam Agreably to the intimation in the note I had the pleasure to address you from the Inn—we reached Harwich the next morning by eight, where ... 29 May 1787Abigail Adams to John Adamsmy dearest Friend I received mr Cuttings Letter on Monday morning, and was glad to find you had stoped Short of Hardwick. I prognosticated from the w... 30 May 1787Abigail Adams to William Stephens SmithMy Dear Sir I have written you only a few lines since your absence; and those conveyed to you rather an unpleasing account, but you will find my lett... 1 June 1787John Adams to Abigail AdamsMy dearest Friend We are lodged in our old Chamber at Amsterdam, and Sleep as soundly as if there were not a dozen houses plundered every night. The ... 2 June 1787John Adams to Abigail AdamsMy dearest Friend I wrote you Yesterday, that I had executed the Contract and should return to England by the Packet of Wednesday the Sixth of June. ... 4 June 1787William Stephens Smith to Abigail AdamsMy dear Madam— I have recived your agreable Letter of the 5th. of may and am much obliged for it, at the same time I had the happiness of getting one... 6 June 1787William Stephens Smith to Abigail AdamsMy Dear Friend: I was much pleased this morning by the receipt of yours of May 19th. Look at the dates—May 5th, Paris, and Blois, May 11th—the places... 7 June 1787Abigail Adams to John AdamsMy Dearest Friend I expected to have heard from you by the last post, but was dissapointed, only a few lines from Mr Cutting have come to hand since ... 10 June 1787Abigail Adams Smith to John Quincy Adams my Conscience really reprimands me for having so long omitted writing my Dear Brother, for several months past I must plead in excuse the want of Hea... 13 June 1787John Cranch to Abigail AdamsMadam; I should have addressed your excellency sooner, but that my mind, which is the weakest—(or, as I had rather settle your excellency's idea of i... 13 June 1787Cotton Tufts to John AdamsSr. In my Letter to Mrs. Adams Pr. Capt. Scott, I mentioned to her, That Mr. S. Q. was negociating for Borlands Place— it was then my Opinion that He... 23 June 1787John Cranch to Abigail AdamsFor Mrs. Adams: Substance of miss Palmer's account of the University exhibition at Cambridge, the 10th. of April: To J.C. “—— preceded by a band of M... 26 June 1787Abigail Adams to Thomas Jeffersondear sir I have to congratulate you upon the safe arrival of your Little daughter, whom I have only a few moments ago received. She is in fine Health... 27 June 1787Abigail Adams to Thomas Jeffersondear sir I had the Honour of addressing you yesterday and informing you of the safe arrival of your daughter. She was but just come when I sent of my... 29 June 1787Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail AdamsMy dear Sister I have sent one Letter on Board capt Cushing but it is so long since that unless I Write again you will not feel as if you had heard f... 30 June 1787John Quincy Adams to John AdamsDear Sir I am at length released from the multiplicity of business which has employ'd so much of my time, for the last eighteen months: during that p... 30 June 1787Cotton Tufts to Abigail AdamsDear Mrs. Adams— I beg you to inform Mrs. Smith, that I have forwarded to Mr Mc.Connell enclosed in a Letter to Miss Margaret Smith the Picture she r... 30 June 1787Cotton Tufts to John AdamsDear Sr. On conversing with Mr. Parsons relative to Your Sons entring into the Study of the Law, I found him disposed to take him under his Instructi... 1 July 1787Abigail Adams to Cotton Tuftsmy dear sir your two Letters of May 21 & 26 were yesterday deliverd. captain Scot has not yet got up. I hope by him to receive Letters from my other ... 1 July 1787Thomas Jefferson to Abigail Adams A thousand thanks to you, my dear Madam, for your kind attention to my little daughter. her distresses I am sure must have been troublesome to you: b... 6 July 1787Abigail Adams to Thomas Jeffersonmy dear sir If I had thought you would so soon have Sent for your dear little Girl, I should have been tempted to have kept her arrival here, from yo... 10 July 1787Abigail Adams to Thomas Jefferson with a Memorandum of PurchasesDear sir When I wrote you last I did not know that petit had taken places in the Stage & paid for them. this being the case I have represented it to ... 10 July 1787Thomas Jefferson to Abigail AdamsDear Madam This being the day on which, according to my calculation, my daughter would be crossing the channel, I had calculated the course from Dove... 14 July 1787Abigail Adams to Mary Rutledge SmithMy Dear Madam I received your agreeable Letter with much pleasure: having only before heard of the arrival of the vessel in which you embarked. I can... 14 July 1787Abigail Adams Smith to Lucy Cranch most readily my Dear Lucy do I acknowledge the tittle of friend with which you address me—and am very happy to have preserved your esteem thus far in... 16 July 1787Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranchmy dear sister If as the poet says, expectation makes the blessing sweet, your last Letter was peculiarly so, as you conjectured I was not a little a... 16 July 1787Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams My dear sister will I am sure excuse me if I send her now but a short Letter—when she is inform'd that there is but one day between this & commencmen... 16 July 1787Thomas Jefferson to Abigail AdamsDear Madam I had the happiness of receiving yesterday my daughter in perfect health. among the first things she informed me of was her promise to you... 18 July 1787Abigail Adams to John Quincy Adamsmy Dear Son I give you joy of the day, as I presume it is commencment with you at Cambridge, and as it is about 4 oclock in the afternoon, I imagine ... 19 July 1787Abigail Adams to Elizabeth Smith Shawmy dear sister I will not plead in excuse that I have not by any of the late vessels received a Line from my Sister, and on that account omit writing... 19 July 1787Abigail Adams Smith to Elizabeth Cranch to what Cause my Dear Eliza am I to attribute that Air of Mistery which reigns throughout your last Letter to me,— you ever Possessed my friendship E... 20 July 178728 July 1787Abigail Adams' Diary of a Tour from London to Plymouth, 20–28 July 1787 (M/AA/1, APM Reel 197). PRINTED: , D&A, 3:203–208. 's Diary of the family's trip through west England describes only the first nine days of their mon... 20 July 1787John Adams to John Quincy AdamsMy dear Son, We Suppose, that you had your Degree last Wednesday, and upon that Supposition, I congratulate you upon it. it is hinted that you think ... 20 July 1787John Adams to Richard CranchMy dear Brother I have only the time to inform you, that this morning I am to Sett out, with My Wife and Daughter, with her little Son, to See your C... 21 July 1787Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail AdamsMy Dear Sister The Day—the mighty Day is over, & our Sons have perform'd their Parts—& receiv'd the Honour of the college in a manner which will do t... 22 July 1787Elizabeth Smith Shaw to Abigail AdamsMy Dear Sister— The last Week has indeed been a Week of Joy to me— We have “eat our Bread with gladness, & drank our Wine with merry Hearts—” My dear... 1 August 1787John Quincy Adams to Abigail AdamsDear Madam. At length the scene of my collegiate life is closed, and about a fortnight ago I made a public exit from the university: by the public pa... 18 August 1787Lucy Cranch to Abigail AdamsMy dear Aunt— I wrote you a few hasty lines, from Boston the Monday before Commencement, inclosing two news-papers which Mr Jinks was to carry, I wen... 19 August 17871 September 1787Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail AdamsMy Dear Sister The vacancys of our Sons always produces a hurry in our business & although we endeavour to keep every thing in good order for them fr... 22 August 1787William Stephens Smith to Abigail Adams Smith I wrote you, my love, the first thing I did after my landing here on the 20th; I then proposed setting off from this, yesterday or this morning; but ... 27 August 1787John Adams to Cotton TuftsDear Sir You mention to Mrs Adams a Piece of Land adjoining to me, of 56 Acres at 25s an Acre: but are at a Loss, whether it will be for my Interest ... 30 August 1787Thomas Jefferson to Abigail AdamsDear Madam I have omitted writing sooner to you in expectation that Colõ Smith would have taken this in his route: but receiving now information from... 10 September 1787Abigail Adams to Thomas JeffersonDear sir your obliging favours of july and August came safe to Hand. the first was brought during my absence on an excursion into the Country. I was ... 15 September 1787Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranchmy dear sister When I wrote you last, I was just going to Set out on a journey to the West of England. I promised you to visit mr Cranchs Friends and... 20 September 178724 September 1787Cotton Tufts to Abigail AdamsDear Cousin Yours & Mr. Adams of the 1t. & Yours of the 4th. of July I recd. the 6th. Inst. the former by a British Vessell the latter by the Way of ... 22 September 1787Mercy Otis Warren to Abigail Adams I thank my dear Mrs Adams for Mrs Montagues observation, on the writings of shakespear which I received by Calihan. though every part of your letters... 23 September 1787Elizabeth Cranch to Abigail Adams A Letter from my dear Aunt Adams recievd last July remains unanswered; I am almost ashamed to reccollect it; but for a long time indisposition tottal... 23 September 1787Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail AdamsMy dear Sister I wrote to you about three weeks since thinking clallahan would sail immediatly but he is not yet gone & I find Folger will go before ... 30 September 1787Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail AdamsMy dear Sister 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... 1 October 1787Abigail Adams to Elizabeth Cranchmy dear Eliza I am very sorry to find by your Mammas Letters that you are unwell. I wish you could have made an excursion with me to have visited you... 1 October 1787William Cranch to Abigail AdamsMadam, Not to acknowledge the many favours I have recieved from you, and the obligations they have laid me under, would be ingratitude in the greates... 3 October 1787Abigail Adams to Lucy Cranch I thank you my dear Lucy, for writing by mr Jenks tho only a few Lines, but that was very excusible considering how much she was engaged, both your m... 4 October 1787Thomas Jefferson to Abigail AdamsDear Madam By mr̃ Cutting I have an opportunity of acknoleging the receipt of your favor of Sep. 10th. inclosing one for my daughter Polly. when she ... 5 October 1787Abigail Adams to Cotton TuftsDear sir Your obliging favour by captain Folger came safe to Hand, and brought me the agreeable intelligence of my Eldest sons having received His de... 8 October 1787Abigail Adams to Mary Smith CranchDear sister I inclose a pamphlet upon darying which when you have read, be so good as to give to Pheby provided she becomes my dairy woman, and be so... 8 October 1787Abigail Adams to Mary Smith CranchMy dear sister I have just sent some Letters to go by Captain Folger, but find he does not sail so soon as captain Cushing. Should he arrive before F... 12 October 1787Abigail Adams to John Quincy AdamsMy dear son I cannot begin my Letter by thanking you for yours. You write so seldom, that you, do not give me the opportunity, yet I think you would ... 12 October 1787Abigail Adams to Elizabeth Smith ShawDear Sister Your obliging Letter was handed me, on my return from a journey into Devonshire. it was one of the most agreeable excursions I ever made.... 1 October 178718 October 1787Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranchmy dear sister I have already written you a long letter giving you an account, of my journey, this must relate Chiefly to private affairs. your Lette... 20 October 1787Abigail Adams to Mary Smith CranchDear sister As captain Folger is not yet gone I write a few more lines by him, tho I have nothing new to acquaint you with, only that two days ago my... 21 October 1787Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail AdamsMy dear Sister To hear that our dear good uncle Smith is added to the number of the Friends who have departed this Life since you left america will n... 30 October 1787Isaac Smith Jr. to Abigail Adamsmy dear Mrs Adams The last year I acquainted you with the death of my mother, & I am sorry that I have now to inform you of that of my father, an eve... 31 October 1787Cotton Tufts to Abigail AdamsDear Cousn. In my last Letter to Mr. Adams I inform'd Him of the Death of our beloved Uncle Smith— had we enjoyed his Life much longer, it would have... 6 November 1787Abigail Adams to Cotton TuftsDear Sir Last week Captains Folger & Callihan arrived by whom we received all your Letters & Bills. the Bills were imediatly accepted, & will be paid... 17 November 1787Elizabeth Smith Shaw to Abigail AdamsMy Dear Sister.— Friend, after Friend is severed from my Heart—I have lost many near, & dear Relatives, as well as kind Benefactors, since you left A... 4 December 1787Thomas Brand Hollis to Abigail Adamsmy Dear madam you put too much value on trifles which are only small marks of real regard & affection to you & yours. I have always conceived it to b... 9 December 1787Abigail Adams to Thomas Jefferson Mrs Adams presents her respectfull compliments to Mr Jefferson and asks the favour of him to permit petit to purchase for her ten Ells of double Flor... 9 December 1787John Quincy Adams to Cotton TuftsDear Sir. If it should be convenient to you, I would be obliged to you for a supply of money. I endeavour to avoid all expences, but such as are real... 18 December 1787Cotton Tufts to Abigail AdamsDear Cousin The System of Government reported by the late Continental Convention has afforded much Matter for Pens and Tongues— The Friends & opposer... 22 December 1787Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail AdamsMy dear Sister I last week heard from all your sons they were well. After this you may read on calmly— We are all well excepting great colds & coughs... 23 December 1787John Quincy Adams to Abigail AdamsDear Madam. It is a long time since I wrote you last, but I am perfectly weary of making apologies. I have no doubt but my friends will forgive me, w... 1 January 1788Abigail Adams to Cotton TuftsMy dear sir I wrote you by the November packet which Letter I hope you have received before now, in that I mentiond what I wished to have done to the... 12 January 1788Lucy Paradise Barziza to Abigail AdamsDear Madam. If I have failed in my duty untill now, I will differe no longer from emploring my pardon for my neglegence, and to shew you at the same ... 23 January 1788John Adams to John Quincy AdamsMy dear John I am much pleased with your Oration and much obliged to you for it. it seems to me, making allowance for a fathers Partiality, to be ful... 23 January 1788John Adams to Cotton TuftsDear Sir So many Things appear to be done, when one is making Preparations for a Voyage, especially with a Family, that you must put up with a short ... 31 January 1788John Callahan to Abigail AdamsMadam I had the honor to Receive a few lines from you yesterday, relitive to your passage to America, agreeable to your request, I here Send you the ... 2 February 1788Thomas Jefferson to Abigail AdamsDear Madam The silk you desired was delivered to mr̃ Parker a month ago, on the eve of his departure for England, as he supposed. he went however to ... 10 February 1788Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch Since I have had any opportunity of conveyence to my dear Sister, I have received from her Letters of the following dates August 19 Sepbr 23. & 30th ... 10 February 1788Abigail Adams Smith to John Quincy Adams I have now before me your Letter of the 3d of August—which I intend to answer fully—and then 2dly to proceed to some points of information—and 3dly t... 16 February 1788John Quincy Adams to Cotton TuftsDear Sir. I desired my brother Charles when he went from Haverhill, to mention, that I was again in need of a supply of money, and since that time I ... 17 February 1788Elizabeth Smith Shaw to Mary Smith CranchMy Dear Sister— I hear Judge Seargant is to go to Boston tomorrow, & I will not defer writing a few Lines to my Sister, & most heartily thanking her,... 20 February 1788Abigail Adams to Cotton TuftsDear sir I have written twice to you by way of New York, but do not find by yours that either of them had reachd you, nor have I learnt that Captain ... 21 February 1788Abigail Adams to Thomas JeffersonMy dear sir in the midst of the Bustle and fatigue of packing, The parade & ceremony of taking leave at Court, and else where, I am informd that mr A... 26 February 1788Abigail Adams to Thomas JeffersonDear sir Mr Adams being absent I replie to your Letter this day received, that mr Adams has written to you upon the Subject you refer to. our time he... 28 February 1788Cotton Tufts to John AdamsDear Sir I recd. Mrs. Adams's Lettr. of Nov. 6. and had wrote a long Epistle of the 21t. Inst. and put it into the Post Office to go by a Cap. Brown ... 4 March 1788John Adams to Abigail AdamsMy dearest Friend After a Passage of two days, against contrary Winds, and a terrible Jolt through the Mud, from Helvoet, I arrived here this day, in... 5 March 1788Cotton Tufts to John Quincy AdamsDear Sr I recd. Your Favour, previous to which I sent you by Post in a Letter to my Brother a Bank Bill of 20 Dollrs., it would have been sent soon a... 7 March 1788Abigail Adams to John Adamsmy dear Friend Not a word have I heard of, or from you Since you left me this day week. I am anxious to know how you got over & how you do. I am so u... 11 March 1788Abigail Adams to John AdamsMy dearest Friend The Mail is this day arrived, but not a Line have I got from you, nor have I heard a word from you since you left me. I hope you ar... 11 March 1788John Adams to Abigail AdamsMy dearest Friend I have past through the Ceremonies of taking Leave of the States General, the Prince and Princess &c to the Satisfaction of all Par... 14 March 1788John Adams to Abigail AdamsMy dear I have recd yours of the 7.th— I have written you on every Post day. Mr Jefferson is so anxious to obtain Money here to enable him to dischar... 1 March 178816 March 1788Abigail Adams to Lewis D. WardSir Mr Adams being absent upon publick Buisness in Holland when your Letter came to Hand I take the Liberty of replying to it, as I know he will be s... 22 March 1788Abigail Adams to Margaret SmithMadam Altho I have heithertoo felt a diffidence in addressing a Lady with whom I have not the pleasure of a personal acquaintance, I cannot upon this... 23 March 1788Abigail Adams to John Adamsmy dearest Friend I received yours of the 14th and ever Since thursday have been in Hourly expectation of seeing you I hope it is oweing to all the p... 28 March 1788Susanna Clarke Copley to Abigail Adams Mrs: Copley presents Compliments to Mrs: Adams: would have called uppon her this Morning, but that she thinks it must at this time be inconvenient to... 1 March 178829 March 1788Abigail Adams to John BowringSir your obliging favour of Febry 27 was brought me in the absence of mr Adams, who is gone to Holland upon publick buisness, and who upon his return... 30 March 17881 May 1788Abigail Adams' Diary of Her Return Voyage to America, 30 March – 1 May 1788 (M/AA/1, APM Reel 197). PRINTED: , D&A, 3:212–217. began her Diary in London on 30 March on the eve of the Adamses' departure first for Portsmouth a... 2 April 1788Abigail Adams to Abigail Adams SmithDear Child April the 2d: and the anniversary of the birth of my dear Grandson whom I am half distracted to see again, with all his pretty, winning pr... 5 April 1788Abigail Adams to Thomas Brand HollisDear Sir, There is something so disagreeable to one's feelings in taking a final leave of our friends, and thinking that it is the last time we shall... 7 April 1788Thomas Brand Hollis to Abigail AdamsDear Madam It is an ill wind blows no body any good owing to that I received your favor with the greatest sense of gratitude & love for the distingui... 8 April 1788John Callahan to Abigail AdamsMadam— I had the Honor of Receiving a letter from you yesterday— we have had such—Boysterous weather Since your Departur from here that for 6 days. I... 9 April 1788Abigail Adams to Abigail Adams SmithMy Dear Child: It is now ten days since we left London, and have been waiting at Portsmouth and here for the ship, but cannot yet learn that she has ... 11 April 1788John Cranch to Abigail AdamsMadam Understanding by my sister Elworthy, that your Excellency complains of having read yourself out of books, I am tempted to send you down the lat... 3 May 1788John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston AdamsMy dear Brother. We have mutually been deficient in those attentions, which absent connections ought always to preserve towards one another: the faul... 8 May 1788Elizabeth Smith Shaw to Mary Smith CranchMy Dear Sister— You cannot think how anxious I have been to hear from my Sister Adams, & you. Two Vessels I saw by the Papers had arrived from London... 18 May 1788Abigail Adams Smith to Abigail AdamsMy Dear Mamma: I rose this morning with a fair prospect of landing before night, but alas, we are immersed in fogs and darkness. We have been within ... 29 May 1788Abigail Adams to Abigail Adams SmithMy Dear Daughter: I hope you are safe landed at Jamaica, before this time, with Mr. Smith and my sweet boy; how often have I thought of him, amidst t... 8 June 1788Abigail Adams Smith to John Quincy Adams to your Candour my Dear Brother—I must appeal for Pardon that I have thus long delayed to inform you of our safe arrival in this City— I have presume... 15 June 178822 June 1788Abigail Adams Smith to Abigail Adams We are anxiously expecting, by the arrival of every post, to hear of your safety and health. I begin to be very impatient to hear of an event in whic... 22 June 1788Elizabeth Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams Thanks be to an ever watchful & kind Providence that has conducted my dear Brother, & Sister safely to their native Shore— With all the tender affect... 22 June 1788Abigail Adams Smith to William SmithDear Sir— we were made very happy this morning by the receipt of your Letter, informing us of the arrival of my Parents— be pleased to accept our sin... 7 July 1788Abigail Adams to Abigail Adams SmithMy Dear Child: It has been no small mortification to me since my arrival here, that I have not been able to hold a pen, or use my hand in writing, un... 16 July 1788John Adams to Abigail Adams SmithMy Dear Child: Your mamma's hand has been wholly unable to hold a pen, without exquisite pain, from the time of our arrival; and I am afraid your bro... 26 July 1788Elizabeth Smith Shaw to Abigail AdamsMy Dear Sister— I got home the Friday-noon after I left you, & had the great satisfaction of finding all well—my little Daughters humour much abated,... 27 July 1788Abigail Adams Smith to John Adams Last Thursday I had the pleasure of receiving my dear papa's kind letter of July 16th. I was very impatient to hear of your welfare. My mamma's lette... 30 July 1788Mercy Otis Warren to Abigail AdamsMy dear Madam 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 ... 6 August 1788Abigail Adams to Abigail Adams SmithMy dear Child It grieves me to think how little I have been able to write to you since my arrival here. I have set apart many hours which I have dete... 10 August 1788William Stephens Smith to John AdamsDear Sir. I have been honoured by the receipt of your friendly Letter of July the 16th. I supposed, that on your arrival, various matters would neces... 13 August 1788Abigail Adams Smith to Abigail AdamsMy Dear Mamma: We came to town last evening to dine (by invitation) this day, with the President of Congress, and this morning I had the pleasure of ... 20 August 1788Abigail Adams Smith to John Quincy Adams It was with real pleasure my Dear Brother that I received a few days since your letter of july 20th— It was a scource of double Sattisfaction as it r... 23 August 1788Abigail Adams to William Cranch Will you be so kind as to wait upon the Govenour early on monday morning with the inclosed cards and take an answer from him; which Brisler will call... 7 September 1788Abigail Adams Smith to Abigail AdamsMy Dear Mamma: I received, on Wednesday last, from the hands of Mr. T——, your letter, No. 4, of August 25th. He was so obliging as to call with it hi... 21 September 178823 September 1788Elizabeth Smith Shaw to Abigail AdamsMy Dear Sister— Mr Lincoln has been here for several Days past— Tomorrow he intends to return to Hingham, & has offered to carry a Letter to either o... 22 September 1788John Quincy Adams to Abigail AdamsDear Madam. Mr:Lincoln, the bearer, is a young preacher, who belongs to Hingham; he is going home, and I cannot suffer the opportunity to pass unimpr... 28 September 1788Abigail Adams Smith to John Quincy AdamsN3 this morning my Dear Brother—Mr Storer Came out from New York—to spend the day with us and was the Bearer from thence of your kind letter dated Se... 3 October 1788Elizabeth Smith Shaw to Abigail AdamsMy Dear Sister— I am almost affraid you do not love me so well as I hoped you did— If you had have known how much you dissappointed me, & my Friends ... 5 October 1788Abigail Adams Smith to Abigail AdamsMy Dear Mamma: I wrote you a hasty letter from New-York, just to acknowledge the receipt of yours, No. 5, the week before last; since which I have no... 10 November 1788William Stephens Smith to Abigail AdamsMy dear Madam— It is with particular pleasure I communicate to you the joyfull news of Mrs: Smiths safe delivery of a Son, which took place between s... 11 November 1788John Adams to Abigail Adams SmithMy Dear Child: Our anxiety for you, in your present circumstances and situation among strangers, (though we doubt not you have many friends,) has pre... 11 November 1788John Adams to William Stephens SmithDear Sir: I was much obliged to you for a letter by Mr. Nesbit of Philadelphia, and am very sorry I could not have more of his company. He was much e... 16 November 1788Abigail Adams to John Adamsmy dearest Friend We Reachd this place last evening and put up at a mr Avery's private Lodgings, where we are very well accommodated. I am delighted ... 24 November 1788Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranchmy dear sister I know you will rejoice with me that all was happily over & mrs Smith safely abed before I reachd her She thought she should do as she... 26 November 1788Elizabeth Smith Shaw to Mary Smith CranchMy Dear Sister— I do not know whether you have heard a word from me since I left you, if you have not, I presume it will afford you some pleasure to ... 30 November 17882 December 1788Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail AdamsMy dear sister I have been waiting above a week hopeing to have a Letter from my dear sister informing me of her safe arrival at newyork Before I can... 2 December 1788John Adams to Abigail AdamsMy dearest Friend Before this time I hope you have the Happiness to See your Daughter out of all Danger and your Son in Law and your two grand childr... 3 December 1788Abigail Adams to John Adamsmy dearest Friend This day three weeks I left Home, since which I have not heard a word from thence. I wrote you from Hartford and once from this pla... 13 December 1788Abigail Adams to John Adamsmy dear Friend I hope every post to hear from you, but every post has hithertoo dissapointed me. a month is a long time to be absent from Home withou... 13 December 1788Abigail Adams to John Quincy Adamsmy dear son I begin to think I am not of that concequence at Home which I supposed myself, or that you think me less solicitious about my Family than... 14 December 1788Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail AdamsMy dear sister I do indeed rejoice with you all upon the happy event which took place in mr smiths Family before your arrival I hope my Neices health... 15 December 1788Abigail Adams to John AdamsMy dearest Friend It was not untill yesterday that I received your Letter & mrs Cranchs. mr mccomick came up & brought them both to my no small satis... 15 December 178818 December 1788Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranchmy dear sister I thank you for your kind Letter of Novbr 30th Decbr 2d you judg'd rightly I was almost melancholy to be a month from Home, and not to... 28 December 1788John Adams to Abigail AdamsMy dearest Friend I have recd your favours of the 3 and 13thand have opened that to our Son, who has been absent from me these 3 Weeks at Newbury, wh... 12 January 1789Abigail Adams to John Adamsmy dearest Friend I last wednesday received yours of Decbr 28 and should have answerd by the post of thursday but that the mail for thursday closes o... 3 February 1789Mercy Otis Warren to Abigail Adams How dos my dear Mrs Adams like the City of New york: its manners & amusements as it may probably be her future residence I hope she found every thing... 14 February 1789Elizabeth Smith Shaw to Abigail AdamsMy Dear Sister— You cannot think how mortified & grieved I was, by being so unexpectedly disappointed, of seeing my dear, long absent Friends last ni... 20 February 1789Abigail Adams to Sarah Livingston Jaymy dear madam When I left your Hospitable mansion, I did not design so many days should have elapsed, before I had express'd to you the pleasing sens... 6 April 1789William Stephens Smith to John AdamsDear Sir— Mr: Bourne has this moment waited upon me and informs, that he has been honoured by the senate with the appointment of being the Bearer of ... 12 April 1789James Lovell to Abigail Adams Mr. Duerr, as you pronounce it, and my Wife seem to think alike as to the Powers of an Ambassadress when placed as an Helpmate to the Ambassador. Mr ... 19 April 1789John Adams to Abigail AdamsMy dear I have been so diligent on the Road and so much interrupted by Company at the Taverns that this is the first time I have been able to get an ... 22 April 1789Abigail Adams to John Adamsmy dearest Friend I received mr Bourn's Letter to day, dated this day week, and I was very happy to Learn by it that you had made so Rapid a progress... 22 April 1789Abigail Adams to James LovellMy Dear Sir I this evening received your letter of April 12th. tho' you love a labyrinth you always give a clue. Mr & Mrs L may be assured that an ol... 22 April 1789John Adams to Abigail AdamsMy dearest Friend This is the first Moment I have been able to Seize, in order to acquaint you of my Arrival and Situation. Governor Clinton The Mayo... 26 April 1789Abigail Adams to John Adamsmy dearest Friend Major Gibbs Captain Beals & mr Woodard all are going to New-york, and all have desired Letters, but as they all go at the same Time... 27 April 1789John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams I expected to have received ere this some Letters either from Braintree or Boston; But excepting what I have collected from the Newspapers I have hea... 1 May 1789Abigail Adams to John Adamsmy dearest Friend I received your kind favours of the 19 & 22 of April. the printers were very obliging in taking particular care to supply me daily ... 1 May 1789John Adams to Abigail AdamsMy dearest Friend It has been impossible to get time to write you.— Morning, Noon, and Night, has been taken up with Business, or Visits.— Yesterday ... 2 May 1789Elizabeth Smith Shaw to Abigail AdamsMy Dear Sister 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 Ad... 3 May 1789John Adams to Abigail AdamsMy dear Portia I must finally conclude to request of you to come on to New York as soon as possible and bring Charles and Thomas both with you if you... 5 May 1789Abigail Adams to John AdamsMy dearest Friend Mr Dawes sent me word that he was going to Newyork this week. I would not omit any opportunity of writing to you, tho I know I must... 5 May 17896 May 1789Abigail Adams to John Quincy Adamsmy dear son Mrs Hay call'd, and left me your Letter. tho I have not written to you before I have had you constantly upon my mind, and have been anxio... 6 May 1789Abigail Adams to John Adams Brisler arrived last Evening and brought yours of May the 1st I have not time to notice all I want to in it, I wish to know whether you would like th... 7 May 1789Abigail Adams to John Adamsmy dearest Friend our parson has been praying for you to day that you may be enabled to discharge the high and important Trust committed to you with ... 13 May 1789John Adams to Abigail AdamsMy dearest Friend I have taken an House, and now wish you to come on, as soon as possible.— It will be necessary to send by Water all the Carpets tha... 14 May 1789John Adams to Abigail AdamsMy dearest Friend I have recd yours of the 5th.— If you think it best, leave Thomas at Colledge: but I pray you to come on with Charles, as soon as p... 14 May 1789William Stephens Smith to Abigail AdamsMy dear Madam I have the happiness of informing you that Mrs: Smith and the Boys are in high health and that your presence here as soon as you can po... 16 May 1789Abigail Adams to John AdamsMy dearest Friend I yesterday received yours of May the 3d by Captain Beal's in which you request that I would come on imediatly Yours of May the fir... 18 May 1789John Adams to Abigail AdamsMy dearest Friend I am in such a situation that I cannot see the way clear for you to come on, till some resolution is passed in the House.— You will... 19 May 1789John Adams to Abigail AdamsMy dearest Friend inclosed is a Letter from Captn. Brown who commands the best Packet between Providence and this Place.— He called very politely and... 24 May 1789John Adams to Abigail AdamsMy dearest Friend I have received your Letter of the 16th.— I have taken a large and handsome house, in a beautiful Situation, about two miles out of... 26 May 1789Abigail Adams to John Adamsmy dearest Friend I hope Barnard has arrived with the things which I sent by him. if there is any person in the House they had better be sent immedia... 27 May 1789John Quincy Adams to William Cranch I should have answered your last favour, ere this [but in?] [conse]quence of the information you gave me, I went to Haverhill [last?] Thursday and re... 30 May 1789Abigail Adams to John Quincy Adamsmy dear son I have sent you the Cloth the coat & Boots. the Glass I have not yet been able to find. inclosed is an other article the amount of what I... 30 May 1789John Adams to Abigail AdamsMy dearest Friend Your old Acquaintance Mr Harrison of Cadiz will deliver you this, if you should not, as I hope you will, be Sett off for this place... 31 May 1789Abigail Adams to John Adamsmy dearest Friend I received yesterday your Letter of May the 24th and shall begin tomorrow to get such things in readiness as will enable us to keep... 3 June 1789Lucy Ludwell Paradise to Abigail AdamsMy Dear Madam— Since my return to England, I have been told of the great Civilities you were pleased to Shew to My Dear Deceased Child. I return you ... 6 June 1789John Adams to Abigail AdamsMy dearest Friend I must now most Seriously request you to come on to me as soon as conveniently you can. never did I want your assistance more than ... 7 June 1789Abigail Adams to John Adamsmy dearest Friend I this day received the Federal Gazzet, tho I got no Letter from you, I was in hopes to have heard this week in replie to what I wr... 14 June 1789Abigail Adams to John Adamsmy dearest Friend I last Evening received your Letter of june 7th I will set of on Wednesday for Providence and embark in the first packet for New-yo... 17 June 1789Abigail Adams to Cotton TuftsSir Not being able to dispose of my oxen as I expected, & to have taken half the money for them, I do not find myself able to pay French without taki... 17 June 1789Abigail Adams' Directions Concerning Their Massachusetts Houses and Farms Mr Bass is to pay 20 Dollors pr Year and the Taxes for one half the House and the whole, of the small garden this Rent is to be paid this Year in wor... 19 June 1789Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranchmy Dear sister 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 thankf... 21 June 1789Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail AdamsMy dear Sister I last evening receiv'd your kind Letter from Providence but shall not be able to get one to you by tomorrows Post—but shall write by ... 28 June 1789Abigail Adams to Mary Smith CranchMy dear sister I wrote you from Providence some account of my polite reception there & closed my Letter just as I had accepted an invitation to dine ... 28 June 1789John Quincy Adams to John AdamsDear Sir. It has not been altogether from a neglect of my duties that I have hitherto omitted writing you; from situation as well as from inclination... 5 July 17896 July 1789Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail AdamsMy dear Sister I promiss'd to write you by the Post when your Furniture Sail'd but Doctor Tufts Said he had done it— I hope you have it safe & that i... 9 July 1789John Adams to John Quincy Adams I thank you my dear Son, for your dutiful Letter of the 28th. of June, and rejoice, with exceeding Joy, in the recovery of your health My Advice is, ... 12 July 1789Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranchmy dear sister I received your kind Letter by mr Brisler who reachd here on the 4th of july, Since which you will easily suppose I have been very bui... 20 July 1789Cotton Tufts to Abigail AdamsDear Cousn I am much pleased to hear that you have a commodious Seat, its Scituation delightful & Prospect pleasant— We have had a fine Commencement ... 30 July 1789Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail AdamsMy dear Sister I can never Sufficiently express my thanks or my gratitude for your last kind & affectionate Letter & you must not laugh at me nor chi... 2 August 1789Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail AdamsMy dear Sister I have been several times to your new house but I do feel such a want of my dear sisters smiling countinance that I do not know how to... 9 August 1789Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranchmy dear sister If I should ask why I have not heard from my sister or Friends, for several weeks past, would she not answer me by retorting the quest... 10 August 1789Abigail Adams to William Smithmy Dear Sir Give me leave to congratulate you & mrs Smith upon the Birth of a Daughter. I hope both the Mamma and Infant are in good Health, as well ... 1 September 1789Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranchmy dear sister I Received your kind Letters and meant sooner to have replied to them, but many avocations have prevented me. I am fully apprizd of al... 1 September 1789Abigail Adams to Cotton Tufts with regard to politicks the debates of the House will give you an Idea of them, as yet there has been but little Heat upon any Subject, but there is... 2 September 1789John Adams to Thomas Boylston AdamsMy dear Son I have this morning received your manly letter of 25th Ult.— I had long intended to write you but as you observe avocations have always i... 8 September 1789Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail AdamsMy dear Sister I am quite discourag'd writing by the Post I know not if you have ever receiv'd one Letter Which I have sent by them I have sent two l... 15 September 1789Cotton Tufts to Abigail AdamsDear Madam— Your Favour of the 1st. Inst. I recd the 11st. and shall give orders to Pratt relative to the Butter &c Not having received an Answer to ... 27 September 1789Abigail Adams to Elizabeth Smith Shaw I write to you my dear sister, not from the disputed Banks of the Potowmac, the Susquehanna or the deleware, but from the peace-full Borders of the H... 1 October 1789William Cranch to John Quincy AdamsMy Good friend— Altho I have written you before, I know you have no objection to recieving another letter before you answer my last— My greatest moti... 4 October 1789Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranchmy dear sister I wrote you a Letter last week, but as it did not get to the Post office, I have detaind it with an intention of sending you one of a ... 5 October 1789Abigail Adams to Cotton TuftsDear sir Your favour of 15 sepbr I have not yet replied to. with regard to the House, I wish it was as moveable an article as a Carriage I would then... 6 October 1789Susanna Clarke Copley to Abigail AdamsDear Madam Your Favor of July 14th: I duely received, and feel myself not a little flattered by your kind remembrance, and shall be ever highly grati... 11 October 1789Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranchmy dear sister Mr Adams Sets of tomorrow morning on a visit to Braintree. I would gladly have accompanied him, but so many difficulties arose in the ... 14 October 1789John Adams to Abigail AdamsMy dearest Friend Mr Dalton, Mr Jenkes and myself are at Penfields in good health and Spirits.— My Horses perform very well and my Servant tolerably.... 15 October 178925 October 1789Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail AdamsMy dear Sister I have at last receiv'd your Letter but never was poor creature more dissapointed I thought to be sure that it contain'd orders for me... 20 October 1789Abigail Adams to John AdamsMy dearest Friend I yesterday received your kind favour dated at Fairfield and am happy to find that you had advanced thus far with no greater inconv... 23 October 1789Lucy Cranch to Abigail AdamsMy dear Aunt— Though we were all happy to see my honoured and revered Uncle again in his favorite Braintree, yet we were disapointed, greatly in not ... 25 October 1789Abigail Adams to John Adamsmy dearest Friend I presume you have reachd Braintree before this day I hope the sight of your Friends and of your Farm has restored your Health and ... 1 November 1789Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranchmy dear sister A strange phenomanan has happend in our Family. I believe I wrote you that Louissa and John were both innoculated for the small pox bu... 1 November 1789John Adams to Abigail AdamsMy dearest Friend I thank you for your kind Letter inclosing that from our Friend Hollis. The Influenza is here as general as it was at N. York.— You... 1 November 17894 November 1789Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail AdamsDear Sister The dull weather of Last week has prevented sister Shaw from making her visit or she would have been here mourning with me the absence of... 3 November 1789Abigail Adams to John Adamsmy dearest Friend I did not write to you by the last post. I was in hopes to have received a Letter from your and to have known from under your own H... 3 November 1789Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranchmy dear sister I did not receive your Letter dated 25 untill sunday Evening which made it too late to write by the last post in replie to it. I do no... 4 November 1789Martha Washington to Abigail AdamsMy dear Madam I should have been very happy to have seen you yesterday.— and am truly sorry the bad day disapointd me of the plasure, your servant br... 10 November 1789Abigail Adams to John Adamsmy dearest Friend Tis more than a month since you left Home, and except the few lines from Fairfield, I have not received a single Letter from you. I... 14 November 1789Abigail Adams to John Adamsmy Dearest Friend I received yours of Novbr 4. on thursday last. Brisler and his Family got here the same Day & are waiting the arrival of Barnard to... 14 November 1789John Adams to Abigail AdamsMy dearest Friend I am impatient to return but partly on Account of my Son who wishes to Stay at Colledge as long as he can, and partly, on Account o... 15 November 1789Abigail Adams Smith to Elizabeth Cranch Norton almost twelve months have elapsed since the date of your last letter, I am conscious that this chasm in our Correspondence my Dear Eliza has been my ... 22 November 1789Abigail Adams to John Quincy Adamsmy dear son one would suppose that the waters between N york and Road Island had produced the same effect upon you, that the Poets feign of the River... 22 November 1789Abigail Adams to Cotton TuftsMy dear sir 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 happ... 5 December 1789John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams No, my dear Madam, I have not tasted of the waters of Lethe, nor have the Laws of Nature, been obliterated from my heart, by too close an attention t... 8 December 1789Martha Washington to Abigail Adams Mrs. Washington presents her best compliments to Mrs. Adams, and will thank her to say at what hour it will be agreeable to visit Mrs. Graham's Schoo... 12 December 1789Hannah Quincy Lincoln Storer to Abigail Adams Will My good and worthy friend Mrs. Adams, give Me leave to request her acceptance of a Small Tub of Butter? Such as we think very good, and I hope i... 20 December 1789Cotton Tufts to Abigail AdamsDear Cousin Yours of the 22d. I recd. on Sunday last, by Gen Lincoln— the several Articles You requested me to procure I shall collect as soon as pos... 27 December 1789Abigail Adams Smith to John Quincy Adams I have lived long in expectation of the pleasure of receiving a letter from my Dear Brother but at length I am reduced to despair; and am led to inqu... Back Matter Appendix: List of Omitted Documents Chronology
