Adams Family Correspondence, volume 8

Elizabeth Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams, 22 June 1788 Shaw, Elizabeth Smith Adams, Abigail
Elizabeth Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams
Haverhill June 22d1788

Thanks be to an ever watchful & kind Providence that has conducted my dear Brother, & Sister safely to their native Shore— With all the tender affections that ever warmed a Sisters Heart, I bid you welcome—welcome once more to America—welcome my dear Brother to a Land for which you have for many years toil'd & laboured—

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I have my dear Sister been exceedingly axious for these three weeks about you— The joyful tidings of your arrival reached me last Friday, & eased my heart of a burden, with which it has been long oppressed—

The dangers Mr Adams has encounterd, & the eminent Services he has rendered his country, cannot be fully known [bu]t to his nearest Connections—& though a grateful people may yield him a tribute of praise yet all the applause, & glory he justly merits may not be given him till some future age—when certain distinctions are lost—when Envy & malice cannot operate—& All the Causes of them are removed—

I hope to have the pleasure of seeing you this week—but unfortunately, am taken to day with an inflamation in my Eyes— My ill humours are always operating some where or other— I think you once told me it was a favour to my friends it was in my blood & not in my temper—

I have been anticipating & participating of the pleasure with which your Children have been presented to their Parents— How precious is a good name, & how pleasing to behold them walking in the paths of Secence, & of Virtue—

My Children present their Duty & partake largely of the pleasure which has overspread the Countenance of Your ever / affectionate Sister

Eliza Shaw

Excuse the writing

RC (Adams Papers); addressed: “Mrs Abigail Adams / Braintree”; endorsed: “Mrs Shaw / June 22nd1788.” Some loss of text where the seal was removed.

Abigail Adams Smith to William Smith, 22 June 1788 Smith, Abigail Adams Smith, William
Abigail Adams Smith to William Smith
New York June 22d1788 Dear Sir—

we were made very happy this morning by the receipt of your Letter, informing us of the arrival of my Parents—1 be pleased to accept our sincere thanks for this early Proof of your attention— I am anxious to hear particularly respecting their Healths— I hope the Lameness of my Mammas Hand which you mention, is not to be of long continueance—

I hope you will excuse the Liberty I have taken of directing Packages to your Care—and will permit me to Continue the same freedom—as it is the most certain method of Conveyance—

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permit me to request you, to present my Compliments to your amiable Lady—altho I was not particularly acquainted with her— I am happy to Congratulate you tho at a late Period—upon your Connection and to wish you every possible felicity— Should you visit this Place, Colln Smith and myself shall esteem ourselves very happy to welcome you to our habbitation upon Long Island,—

be so good as to present my Compliments to DrWelsh and MrsWelsh—MrsOtis and family / and beleive me Sir with respect and / Esteem your Humbleservt

A Smith

RC (MHi:Smith-Carter Papers); internal address: “MrWm.Smith”; endorsed: “A. Smith / NYK 1788.”

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