Title: Abigail Adams to John Adams, 5 May 1789
From: Adams, Abigail
To: Adams, John

          Braintree May 5th 1789
          My 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 sometimes perplex you with domestick matters I would not do it, but that I wish your advise and direction.
        I wrote you in my last that the wall was compleated between mr Bass & you, and Barley has been sown. the Hill before the window, your Brother has had cleard of stones, & gatherd up the overpluss manure and laid where directed. I requested him to dispose of the young stock if he could, but he has not been able to. I procured a load of Salt Hay for the stock since you went away pay’d Thayer 6£. 12s 11d for the Hay I had of him, & this day am obliged to purchase more English Hay. the wall upon the Hill was poled agreeable to your direction & the sheep put there & Hay given them, but the season is so backward & the flock so large that they are pinch’d. the dr has agreed to take off this week 3 Heffers & the 10 weathers & pay the childrens Quarter Bills which amounts to Sixteen pounds. thus two anxieties I am relieved from But your Brother upon clearing this Hill insists upon it, that it is trod down so hard by the cattle that it will produce no grass this year and the best thing which can be done with it, is to plow it up. to this I could give no consent, knowing how averse you were to any such thing, but yesterday hearing that a Tax Bill was comeing out this month, he got quite discouraged & came to tell me that he would not have any thing to do with the place for that he should never get sufficent of from it, to pay the Taxes— I offered him a part of the sheep, that he should take 20 & leave half the profits of them, Lambs & wool this year, or I would do any thing reasonable that he should desire. as I had not been abl to part with the oxen, French should help cart out the manure but he was sure that you would think he might make so much more than it was possible for him to, that you certainly set him down for Knave or fool—& he would hade no further concern with it, unless it was to render me any assistance— I hope however he will consider further about it, in the mean Time I wish you would write to him, or me; the manner in which Glover has Beals’s place is I suppose a reason with him for thinking that he cannot make this answer. I have got Finil to work with French & must get the manure upon the Grass as soon as possible— I will exert myself to the best of my ability, but it really worried me so much that I could not sleep last Night— the Cows have not calf’d yet, & really every thing seem’s to have gone wrong, veal has got to two pence pr pound. Spear brought me a Parish Rate this week of three pounds 16 shilling & Eleven pence and yesterday col Thayer sent a deed of the woodland.
        As you were always Remarkable at a difficult case, I wish you would direct me what to do with those which at present surround me
        pray burn all my Letters I suppose you are perplexd with National difficulties which will puzzel you as much as my domestick affairs do me. it is hard to have both I have not heard from you since the 22d of April— we are well as usual. yours affectionately
        Abigail Adams


Title: Abigail Adams to John Adams, 6 May 1789
From: Adams, Abigail
To: Adams, John

          May 6th 1789

        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 that I should engage Daniel as coachman who drove you to Newyork when you get to House keeping, and what are the wages given. Tom we can never keep if we wish fer peace— would not the House out of Town be most agreeable to you and most for your Health?
        you mistook me if you thought I meant to bring Charles Tommy. he will [stay?] at colledge till the middle of july, tis only the class who [take?] their degree that can leave college in june, & the President must be written to for the purpose. you did not write me as if you had thought maturely upon it, I would not wish to do any thing without your free consent and advise
        my Letter is waited for.
        yours
        A Adams
          compliments to mr Jay who with your permission is a great favorite of mine to Mrs Levinstong


Title: Abigail Adams to John Adams, 7 May 1789
From: Adams, Abigail
To: Adams, John

          Braintree May 7th Fast day [1789]
          my 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 equal integrity and abilitis as you have heretofore excercised in Negotiations at Foreign courts & embassies abroad, and with equal Benifit & satisfaction to your Country. I have been reading with attention the various addresses to the Pressident & his replies. they are all pathetick but none more so than that to the citizens of Alexandera. throughout all of them he appears to be most sensibly affected with the supreme and over Ruling providence which has calld him to Rule over this great people rather to feel Humble than Elated, & to be overpowerd with the weight & Magnitude of his Trust, who that reflected, who that weigh’d & considerd but must lay his Hand upon his Breast, & say what am I? that this great Trust is committed to me? your Legislature are promulgating a perfectly New doctrine. I had always supposed that in point of Rank the Senate were superiour to the Representitives. this perfect equality brought to my mind a story told of Johnson, that dining one day with mrs Macauley She was conversing upon her favorite topick of the Natural equality of Man— Johnson heard her very gravely, after some time he rose from table & bowing very respectfully to the servant who waited behind his chair, pray mr John, take my place & let me wait in my Turn. you hear what your mistress Says; that we are all equal— there debates as given to the publick do not prove them all solomans, forgive me if I am too sausy—tis only to you that I think thus freely.
        I shall not forward the papers of this week they contain nothing more than what you have already had— I hope it will not be long before you will be able to take a House. living upon a Friend cannot be long agreeable to you I know and now John is away I fear you will suffer some inconvenience I cannot prepare my things for Removal untill I hear further from you, but I should suppose it would be best to get mr Tufts vessel to take them either here or at weymouth. If there are any Number of Books that you would wish for I will have them pack’d & ready if you can point them out; with regard to the Horse I should be very glad that our son might have him, but upon maxims of prudence will it do at this time? I need not give my reasons for the Question. French must be paid before I leave home. there are six months wages due to Brisler on the first of May, which he will have occasion to leave with his wife, & to purchase some articles of furniture. I shall be obliged to pay for what work has been done by your Brothers hands upon the place—an expence I would not have incured if I had supposed he would not have kept the place— you wish to give a look at your Farm, the Hills begin to look Green, but the season is so backward that scarcly a Tree has leaved Lilack excepted. 3 hands with a Team were all yesterday employ’d in picking up the stones, thrown out of the ditches & carried upon Quincy medow in the manure. I could have wished more manure might have been put there, attempted it but found it would cut the ground to pieces— tomorrow will be employd in carrying on the manure behind the House, & clearing the Ground of stones— the sheep have gone very quiet since the wall was poled the Weathers excepted whom no fence would hold but they are parted with.— shall I do all the work necessary upon the place for the present, and at my leaving it request your Brother to take it, he paying one third of the taxes upon it, or shall I leave it to him to say upon what terms he will look after it. mr Baxter very kindly sent me word yesterday that he would hire it for four years but I asked no Questions, presuming you had rather it should lie unimproved. Your son Tom says if he was out of colledge he would come & live with Pheby & Abdee & improve it himself before it should go a beging thus—one of your Townsmen told me the other day that he was very sorry you was gone away, for there was nobody left in Town to buy Land. all your Friends desire to be affectionatly rememberd to you, but none more tenderly than your ever / affectionate
        A Adams
          compliment to miss Levingstone, and all the Ladies who so kindly inquire after your Friend


Title: John Adams to Abigail Adams, 13 May 1789
From: Adams, John
To: Adams, Abigail

          New York May. 13. 1789
          My 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 that are not in Use, and several Beds, Bedsteads, Bedding Bed and Table Linnen,—Plate, China &c if you can convey it to Providence would come better that Way. The House is on the North River about a mile out of the City, in a fine situation, a good Stable, Coach House, Garden, about 30 Acres of Land. it goes by the name of Mr Montiers House.— We may keep, two Cows, on the Pasture. The Rent is 50 or an 100£ less, than for a poorer House in the City.
        Charles and Thomas had better come on with you, at least the former.— Brisler and Polly Taylor, at least must come.— I inclose a Letter to President Willard & am / yours most tenderly
        John Adams


Title: William Stephens Smith to Abigail Adams, 14 May 1789
From: Smith, William Stephens
To: Adams, Abigail

          Newyork May 14th. 1789.
          My 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 possibly make it convenient will be very agreable and is in a great degree necessary— Mr. A has taken a House about one mile from the City as he has informed you, and in his Letters has said something about the removal of furniture— on this subject permit me to say that you cannot bring too much—for if the future arrangement of Congress should extend to the furnishing of your House the articles which you have, at a first estimate will me more advantageously employed than if you were to permit them to remain unused during the period which you will be absent from Braintee and if no provision of that kind should be made, you will save at least 2 or 300£ by bringing on what furniture you have for at present it is a very expensive article in this place— therefore I would advise that you should hire a good Sloop, let her be brought to the nearest landing place and well packed, and after she is loaded and ready to sail let Dr. Tufts insure her Cargo to this port valued sufficiently to cover the property & let her be ordered to proceed about one mile up the north river where we being informed of her arrival will pay the necessary attention to what she convey’s— she can then proceed to within 100 yards of the House & the expence & risk of land Carriage be avoided— in this way if Briessler Comes he can with convenience bring his family &c— you will notice I am in haste & remain / Sincerely yours &c.
        W: S. Smith


Title: Abigail Adams to John Adams, 16 May 1789
From: Adams, Abigail
To: Adams, John

          Braintree May 16 1789
          My 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 first mentions several articles which you suppose it will be necessary for me to send forward, but add all is as yet uncertain, so that I am in doubt what to do, particularly as I have laid before you Since, a state of my difficulties to which I could have wish’t some replie, that I might have known how to proceed agreeable to your wishes; I cannot get your Brother to say upon what Terms he will take the place. he insists upon it that all that can be got from it this year will not more than pay the Taxes, and as a proof he brought me this afternoon a Tax for the high way of Two pounds Nine shillings this added to the parish Tax makes five pounds Eighteen shillings, this added to the Tax we have already paid makes Sixty dollors, but I know very well that if he improved it, they would not tax it so high & then a part of this is for woodland mr Black complains most bitterly, his Taxes are just double. I have not contracted any debts to the amount of a dollor since you left me, two articles only I have been able to part with (, excepting what the Dr took,) a Hog & a Calf, the proceeds of which I was obliged to lay out in Hay for the stock & to send to a distant part of Weymouth for it. they ask 3 shillings pr Hundred Captain Beals is obliged to go to Boston to Buy Hay. there has not been such a Demand for these Several years. mr Black is obliged to Buy, the pastures are quite Bare, & the vegetation very slow & the weather very cold. I do not think I shall be able to get to you in less than three weeks from this Time, & how I shall then be able to leave our affairs is uncertain, no offer of any sort has been made for the oxen. your Brother thinks they had better be sent upon an Island to fat, the scow must lie where it is, for I cannot get any Sale for it. the Horse, I have put upon sale at 80 dollors, but your Brother says I may think myself very well of, to get 70. if I understood Brisler right, you said he should be given to J Q A rather then parted with at less— Barnard arrived this week, and I sent Brisler to Town immediatly for the Trees, they are much smaller than the Rhoad Island Greenings, all of which appear to have taken & are very fine Trees. I have got them all set & properly Guarded so that I hope we shall have an additional quantity of good Fruit I have yet got some Russets as fair as when they came from the Trees. Your Mother is as well as usual & yesterday with our Horse & chaise undertook a ride to Abington where she proposes to spend a fortnight. I have not been from Home but one half day since you left me. Esther was confined & I have had nobody but Polly with me, and I have had my Hands full of spring work for my children, untill Louissa came about a week ago to make me a visit I find her so helpfull to me that I shall keep her till, I come on. I do not like to sleep alone I am so subject to those Nervious affections, that I am some times allarmed with them. with respect to a House, I rather wish you to take one before I come on. Mrs Smith can judge as well as I can, but whether you do or no, I will endeavour to be with you in the course of three weeks from this Time. if you can possibly get time I wish you would say whether I must bring Linnen China Glass kitchen furniture Plate, looking glasses I would not remove and Beds if I leave any in the House I can take only three, or rather I should have said, if I left enough to accommodate us when we come home to see how our Trees grow &C the Hill begins to look finely and & Garden much better for New setting what Box I have had taken up, but it is like diging up so many Trees with large Roots, & I believe to speak within moderate Bounds, it would take a Gardner a Month to do it properly— Thayer is chosen Rep, again. the Shaiseites were very low. Vinton had only one vote, General Lincoln is chosen for Hingham.

        judge Sergant & Lady kept sabbeth with me on their way to Barnstable Court, and desired to be affectionally rememberd to you. judge Cushing has visited me twice. Your Book is his Travelling Companion he says, but he could not possibly part with it yet. I have requested him to deliver it to mr Cranch if I should be absent when he comes again. is mrs Washington arrived yet? I wish she would get there before me— I dont very well like all I see in the papers—. pray write to me by the next post after you receive this Letter. the Printers have sent the papers to you they say, so that I have lost sight of several of them this week all Friends desire to be rememberd to you— most affectionatly / yours
        A A


Title: John Adams to Abigail Adams, 18 May 1789
From: Adams, John
To: Adams, Abigail

          May 18 1789
          My 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 be as ready as you can, and I will write you the Moment to come on. any Thing is done.— I will resign my office rather than bring you here to be miserable.
        Yours eternally
        John Adams.


Title: John Adams to Abigail Adams, 24 May 1789
From: Adams, John
To: Adams, Abigail

          New York. May. 24. 1789
          My 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 the City, upon the North River. The Rent is less, than I must have given for a much meaner house in Town, without any such accommodations of Stable Garden, Pasture &c
        I now desire you to come on, as soon as possible, and to Send by Tirrell, or some other Vessel, Beds, & Bedding—all the Linnen for Beds & Table, Knives & Forks, China, Glass, Kitchen Furniture—in short all the [fur]niture of the House in a manner. Some of the smaller looking Glasses—but the large ones, not yet.— Yet I dont know but it would be best to bring even them.— Furniture here is monstrously dear. Ask the Dr. if it is adviseable to insure? My Books some of them may come too— The Books I wish for, are hume, Johnson Priestley, Ainsworths Dictionary, and Such other Books as may be most amusing and useful— The great Works and Collections I would not bring on. But Blackstone and De Lolme on the English Constitution and the Collection of American Constitutions I would have Sent on.— I am encouraged to expect that the House will do something that will enable Us to live, tho perhaps not very affluently.
        The Place must be left, as you can.— I can form no Judgment about it.— Charles must come with you.— And Polly—and Elijah, if his Parents are willing.
        Mrs Washington, will be here before you, without doubt—she is expected daily.— My Garden is preparing for your Reception, and I wish you were here.
        my dearest friend Adieu
        J. A.
          Livy and Tacitus & Cicero I would have sent, and a Plutarch in french or English &c.


Title: Abigail Adams to John Adams, 26 May 1789
From: Adams, Abigail
To: Adams, John

          Braintree May 26 1789
          my 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 immediatly to it there to lie untill I arrive on the Recept of your Letter May 3’d I sent directly to Town and finding Barnard almost ready to sail I got him to take as many things as I could get ready, they are carpets linnen &c. after I had done this I sat out to visit my sister at Haverhill, leaving word that I would have any letter which should come in my absence sent to me. two days after I left Home I received yours of may 13 & 14th. if I had been at Home I should immediatly have gone about packing some part of my furniture, but to day mr Ward deliverd me your Letter of May 18th I am glad you have determined to proceed no further then taking a House, untill you know upon what terms we are to put our selves in motion. tho I was only absent one week from home I was so uneasy after I received your Letters in which you desired me to come on (directly, least you should think I made an unnecessary delay) that the pleasure of my visit was much diminished. yet I knew mr Tufts vessel was not returnd and that I must wait the return of Barnard before I a could possibly send any thing further. it is a very unpleasent Idea to me, to be obliged to pull down & pack furniture which has already sufferd so much by Removal just as I have got it well arranged. it is no trifling affair & will require no very short time to accomplish. if you please & it must be done; I will only take such things as will enable us to keep House for the present. if our Masters will please to furnish us two Rooms in a proper manner I can put up sufficient for the remainder of the House, but as I know not how to take any steps at present I shall let every thing remain in quiet. but for me to come to N York with Charles and one or two domesticks, before I can go to House keeping would only tend to embarrass us all, & tho I know your situation must be painfull & dissagreable to you, I fear I should only increase rather then lessen your difficulties. I would wish to know if I do not ask an improper thing, whether you would be willing I should bring Louissa with me. I find her so usefull with her needle, at any House work at the Ironing Board, that I think she would be to me a very great assistance, but at the same time if you are not intirely willing, or have the least objection, I shall not repeat my request— she has two qualities which you value—silence & modesty
        Mr Allen brought your Letter of May 19th. I found it this Evening upon my return. Captain Brown is the Captain with whom Brisler came home, & with him he has desired me to go, as he has a great opinion of his civility. Daniel I found was married and in a pretty way of Buisness, so I have not said any thing to him. I shall be obliged to send the Horse to J Q: A. I cannot get any offer for him, tho I have sent to Ballard & to Bracket, several Gentleman have lookd at him, but he is known in Town to have broken a chaise for woodard all to peices, a circumstance I never knew untill I offerd him for sale. I could have disposed of him but for that circumstance & his being too Headstrong for Ladies to manage our son says it will cost him this summer as much to hire Horses to attend court as the keeping that horse will amount to, but I tell him he must sell him if he can. The president has received both your Letters and will ask consent of the Corperation for charles. he has a French oration given him for his part at commencement. The president & Lady have sent me word that they design to visit me on Saturday next & dine with me. our good Friends judge Dana & Lady kept Sabbeth with me on their way to Plimouth court. it grieved me to see him in such ill Health I found him better on my return from Haverhill. I lodged at his House. I came through Town & dined at Dr Welchs, where I met with mr Pearson, who was very full with his remarks upon the answer of the House to the President. he was much disgusted with the manner & stile of it. “This is what we have Thought fit to address to you” was the Language of superiours to an inferiour. Stiling him fellow citizen, was in his opinion very improper, he was no more their fellow citizen whilst he was President of the united states, than the King of G. B was fellow Subject to his people— I read the debates of the House and I have watch’d a certain character much celebrated, & from the whole I have drawn up this conclusion, that he either does not possess so great talants as he has been said too, or he is aiming at Popularity, at the expence of his judgment & understanding Honestus, pronounces mr Madison the wisest & best man in the House, but time will unvail Characters. I do not like his Politicks, nor the Narrow jealousy he has discoverd.
        I have an opportunity of sending this Letter written in great haste as you will perceive—
        Yours most tenderly and / affectionatly
        A Adams
          inclosed is Barnards Receit


Title: Abigail Adams to John Quincy Adams, 30 May 1789
From: Adams, Abigail
To: Adams, John Quincy

          Braintree May 30th 1789
          my 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 engaged to you. The Horse I had engaged to keep for a Gentleman till Monday next, so that I could not without forfeiting my word let him go till twesday provided I should not sell him to him. I am sorry, for if I should not part with him then: I should not make any further trial and should be glad to get him to you as soon as possible— when I got home on twesday Evening, I received a Letter from your Father in which he says after many deliberations he has concluded that I shall not come on, untill the House pass some resolution respecting him. this I think the most prudent desicion, for to be there with a thousand wants & demands & no resources is much worse than being here at any rate. it has given me a little farther respit. I must request you in my absence to attend to your Brother Tom, to watch over his conduct & prevent by your advice & kind admonitions, his falling a prey to vicious Company. at present he seems desirious of persueing his studies preserving a character and avoiding dissipation, but no youth is secure whilst temptations surround him, and no age of Life but is influenced by habits & example, even when they think their Characters formed. I have many anxious hours for Charles, and not the fewer, for the new scene of life into which he is going, tho I think it will be of great service to have him with his Father, & more to take him intirely away from his acquaintance. I have written to him upon some late reports which have been circulated concerning him. I hope they are without foundation, but such is the company in which he is seen that he cannot fail to bear a part of the reproach even if he is innocent. if you should be able to send again, next week let me know one day before hand, & the Name of the person by whom you send, for if I had sent the Horse to Brackets I should not have known whom to have inquired for— I have not heard from your uncle since we left him, I hope he is better—
        The Bundle I shall send this day to mr Smiths— pray write me and let me know how you do from time to Time. Yours most affectionatly
        A Adams
          PS I received a line from W C. that the Gentleman by whom you sent for the Horse was gone to Pownalborough it was well I did not send him to Town. I do not know how you will get him unless you come to Boston for him in the course of the week. Brislers Note is inclosed


Title: John Adams to Abigail Adams, 30 May 1789
From: Adams, John
To: Adams, Abigail

          New York May 30. 1789
          My 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 before he can reach Braintree.—
        I expect you, here indeed in a Week or ten days at farthest, from this date. Mrs Washington is arrived. My House and Garden want us very much. We Shall be obliged to bring all our Furniture and most of our Books, except the Law books and the great Collections, such as the Byzantine History, Muratory, the Encyclopædia &c But I hope you will come on, and send Beds and necessaries as soon as possible. Barnard has delivered here, some Trunks & Cases but no Keys nor Letter informing what is in them.— We must make this place our home, and think no more of Braintree, for four years, not forgetting however our Friends there. and what is the most disagreable of all: We must live, as I apprehend, in a Style much below our Rank and station.— I Said four Years, upon the supposition that the Government should support itself so long: but it must be supported by Providence if at all, against the usual Course of Things, if the human Means of supporting it, should not be soon better understood. You and I can live however as plainly as any of them,
        yours most tenderly
        J. A.


Title: Abigail Adams to John Adams, 31 May 1789
From: Adams, Abigail
To: Adams, John

          Sunday May 31. 1789
          my 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 House. I feel a reluctance at striping this wholy at present, because I am well persuaded that we shall in some future period if our lives are prolonged return to it, and even supposing a summer recess, we might wish to come & spend a few months here. an other reason is, that I do not wish to bring all our own furniture, because congress are not, or do not possess sufficient stability to be sure of continuing long in any one state,— I am fully satisfied with the House you have taken & glad that it is a little removed from the city. the advantages will overbalance the inconvenience I doubt not. I suppose Barnard has arrived before this. would it not be best to let him know that he will have a full freight ready, returns as soon as he will, and that I must look out for some other vessel if he delay’s, tho I have not the least prospect of getting one, for mr Tufts’s is yet at Newyork Barnard’s is calculated for the Buisness, & I could get a small vessel to come here to mr Blacks & take in my things & carry them along side of Barnard, which will be less expence, & damage than carting them to Boston. in the mean time I will get the Dr to look out, & see if any other vessel can be hired for the purpose provided Barnard should delay at Newyork. this you can advise me of by the next post. with the greatest expedition I do not think I can get them ready under a week— I must leave Brisler to come by water with them, if you think it best for me to come before my furniture is ship’d, but I do not see what advantage I can be of, to you situated as you are. an additional incunberence to mr Jays family would be still more indelicet than imposing the vice Pressident upon him for several months, and rendering his situation so delicate that he could neither leave him with decency, or stay with decorum, and to be at Jamaica I could do no more than if I was at Braintree to assist in any thing the Trunks which I sent contain Bed & table Linnen some Cloths & the cases contain carpets. I will however be directed wholy by your wishes & come next week if you think it best, and you have any place to put me. you must be sensible from the tenor of Your Letters that I have not known hitherto what to do, any more than you have from your situation, What to direct. you will be as patient as possible & rest assured that I will do my utmost with the means I have, to expidite every thing. as to insurence there will be no occasion for it by Barnard who is so well acquainted with the coast, & at this season of the Year
        The Pressident & Lady dinned with me yesterday. he has got permission for Charles’s absence— Polly Tailor would cry a week if I did not bring her, for a House maid I know not where I could get her equal. Elijahs mother thinks it is too far for her son to go, but if they consent mr Brisler can take him on Board Barnard when he comes, but I shall not press it. Poor daniel has been sick with a soar which gatherd in his Throat & which nearly proved fatal to him. he expected from you some gratuity for himself, oweing to the multiplicity of cares which on all sides surrounded you, at that time, it was omitted. as it was Customary & daniels expectations were dissapointed, he mentiond it to one or two persons, amongst whom woodard was one, who having just returnd from Newyork, clapt his hands into his pocket & taking out two crowns, gave them to him, telling him that you was so much engaged at the time, that it had slipt your mind but that he saw you at Newyork & that he had brought them for him. this came to my knowledge by the way of mr Wibird who insisted upon letting me know it. I immediatly repaid mr woodard & thank’d him for his kindness—
        your Brother I believe will take care of the place when I leave it. the leave for Breaking up the Hill came too late for this season, the weather is remarkably cold & Backward, the pastures bare & vegetation very slow there is a fine blow upon the place, & if the frost last week which killd Beans, has not injured the Blossom, we shall have a large crop of fruit. I had yesterday a fine plate of fair Russets upon the table, sound as when they were taken from the Trees my Garden looks charmingly, but it wants warmth— I have got some Large asparagrass Beds made, & my little grass plots before the door, pay well for the manure which I had put on in short I regreet leaving it. your Mother is well as usual. her Eyes are very troublesome to her. you will let me hear from you by the next post. I hope to be able to relieve you soon from [all?] domestick, cares & anxieties. at least my best endeavours sh[all] not be wanting. I know you want your own Bed & pillows, your Hot coffe & your full portion of kian where habit has become Natural. how many of these little matters, make up a large portion of our happiness & content, and the more of publick cares & perplexities that you are surrounded with, the more necessary these alleviations our blessings are sometimes enhanced to us, by feeling the want of them. as one of that Number it is my highest ambition to be estimated, & shall be my constant endeavour to / prove in all situations & circumstances / affectionatly yours
        A Adams


Title: Lucy Ludwell Paradise to Abigail Adams, 3 June 1789
From: Paradise, Lucy Ludwell
To: Adams, Abigail

          Wednesday June the 3d. 1789
          My 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 a thousand thanks for it and I wish it may ever be in my power to shew you what I feel upon the occasion. As it was not the fault of any Person, but the Will of God, I endeavour to receive it with all the resignation I am able— I hope that you, and all your amiable family, enjoy the Blessings of health, happiness, and prosperity, in as high a degree, as I know they Merit. I beg you will have the goodness to present my best Compliments to them.
        I have the honour to Congratulate you and your Family upon the appointment of Mr. Adams to be our Vice President to our Newly Established Federal Constitution. God Grant that it may be productive of every good to our Country: and I make not be least doubt of it, since we are happy to have the Wisest and best of Gentlemen to Govern Us. We are a Great Nation and with good Laws to make People Industrious and oblige them to pay their debts; We shall be the First Country in the World. Our Friend Mr. Jefferson talks of returning to America soon, pray My Dear Madam send him back to Paris as soon as you can. He is a Most excellent Man. I am under the Greatest of obligations to him, and My Dear Friend Dr. Bancroft. Indeed, I do not know what I should have done in my afflictions since My return to Europe, had not Providence been graciously pleased to raise up these two excellent Gentlemen to assist Me.
        Mr. Trumbulle has just finished a Picture that does him great Credit. I always rejoice when our Country Men excels the Europeans. Mr. Freine often talks to me about the Civilities he received from his Excellency Mr. Adams he desired Me to present his Compliments to you Mr. Adams and all your amiable family. He is a most excellent good Man, and I wish if his Court sent a Minister to America they would send him, you know him so well, I need to say No more about him. Be pleased to make my best Compliments to his Excellency General and Mrs. Washington to General and Mrs. Knox—and family, to Sr. John and Lady Temple, to Mr and Mrs. Jay, Mr and Mrs Kemble Cyrus Griffin, and the Foreign Ministers and their Families, and to My Dear and old Friend Dr Franklin and his truly good Daughter and all her family. I hope to be honoured by the return of the packet with a Letter from you—
        Dear Madam / I have the Honour to be / Your Most Obliged / Humble Servt.
        Lucy Paradise
        P. S It is reported the Dauphen of Frençe is Dead
          I am fixed in London until May Next In Margaret Street No. 45 Cavendish Square London


Title: John Adams to Abigail Adams, 6 June 1789
From: Adams, John
To: Adams, Abigail

          New York June 6. 1789
          My 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 at present, as my Physician and my Nurse. my disorder of Eight years standing has encreased to such a degree as to be very troublesome and not a little alarming.—
        I have agreed to take Col Smith and his Family and Furniture into the House with us and they will be removed into it by next Wednesday.— If Charles has a Mind to stay and deliver his French oration at Commencement, I am willing, and I think it will be greatly for his Reputation and Advantage. in that Case Charles and Tommy may both come to gether to New York after Commencement by the Way of Rhode Island, or by the Stage.
        As to Louisa, our Family will be very great, and vastly expensive and House very full. if you think however you can find room and Beds &C I will not say any Thing against your bringing her.

        You must leave the Furniture to be packed by others and sent after you— We must have it all removed and Sent here, as well as all the Liquers in the Cellar, and many of the Books, for here We must live, and I am determined not to be running backward and forward, till the 4 years are out, unless my Health should oblige me to resign my office of which at present there is some danger.
        It has been a great dammage that you did not come on with me yours affectionately
        John Adams.


Title: Abigail Adams to John Adams, 14 June 1789
From: Adams, Abigail
To: Adams, John

          Sunday Braintree june 14. 1789
          my 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-york. pray get an oz of glober salts and half oz manna & take immediately, an oz of antimonial wine & take 30 drops three time a day. I will be with you however as soon as possible. Barnard got in on fryday. we had two days of voilent and incessant Rain, which tho much wanted, prevented him from unloading his Grain. he has promised me that he will be ready to take my things on Board by wednesday. they are now nearly all ready, and I shall leave Brisler to finish and get them on Board. I and my Neice have gone through the package of every Brittle article, and I think have made them secure I presume there will be more than an hundred packages

        When I think of the expence we have formerly been at in casing & packing these same articles I find it now a very triffel in comparison, tho be sure I have not taken near all my things, and a small part only of the Books, but we have gone through it all with our own hands. we have orderd it thus. we have launchd the Scow, & mean to put all the things into it at different Time’s & Barnard is to come up to the mouth of the creek by mr Blacks & take them on Board. I have done the best in my power with every thing here, but that best is not so much to my satisfaction as I could wish.
        we will endeavour to do every thing that falls to our share with as much calmness & composure as possible, & where they do not go according to our minds, we will bring our minds to go according to them if possible. let sail over the Rocks & Shoals with as much safety as we can, happy if we split neither upon the one, or founder upon the other. Charles has been at home with me for a week and I think it best as he has taken leave, to bring him on. if he stays a commencment some entertainment will be expected, and I shall not be here to attend at all to it. I thank you for your permission to bring Louissa. she will save me very soon the hire of one person. she has been leaning to dress Hair of Mrs Brisler and she will take a great deal of care of, of me buy her needle work, and indeed every kind of attention that she can pay either to you or to me. her temper is perfectly mild, and I think her every Way a good child— adieu my dearest Friend pray take care of your Health. I shall consult dr Tufts & take his advice— my Head and Hands are so full of Buisness that I Scarcly know what I have written— Love to mrs smith & Regards to mr & Mrs Jay— from your ever / affectionate
        A Adams


Title: Abigail Adams to Cotton Tufts, 17 June 1789
From: Adams, Abigail
To: Tufts, Cotton

          Braintree june 17. 1789
          Sir

        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 taking less than 50 Dollors with me, 46 of which it will take for my conveyence to Providence & passage on Board the packet.

        I must therefore request the favour of you sir to pay him for seven months wages at 50 dollers pr year. you will see by the papers that I have settled an account with my Brother & pay’d Spear a Parish Rate I have an account with vezey, it cannot be large as he was pay’d last fall, a small accompt with mr Marsh & something to be setled with deacon Webb. I do not recollect any thing Else. I have left the Horse with my Brother for sale out of which he is to pay 20 dollors to col Thayer for the wood Land. my oxen I wish to have sold as soon as possible, by note if a responsible person can be found who wants them. Thomas spoke to me for a Hat a round one is all he wants. I fear sir that we shall fall in your debt, and wish you would let me have given you a Note for the thirty pounds I had of you I have paid Brisler half a years wages 10.£ 6.s d out of the Thirty & sent my son 20 dollers, Boards Nails and other expences attendant upon getting my furniture on Board, and some small articles of cloathing for Tom & Charles, has taken away all that I sold my stears & wool for. at present I fear we shall not be able to remitt any thing to you, but when I get to House keeping I shall be better able to judge— I cannot but repeat my sincere acknowledgments to you for all your kind and Friendly attentions, and believe me Dear Sir your / ever affectionate
        Abigail Adams
        P S I have given French an order which he will present to you with my papers you will find an account vs John Newcombs he has one against me which will nearly balance, not quite I believe because I cannot get him to settle I inclose you a Note for the money due to French—


Title: Abigail Adams’ Directions Concerning Their Massachusetts Houses and Farms, [ca. 17 June 1789]
From: Adams, Abigail
To:

          [ca. 17 June 1789]

        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 work to me or my order Pheby is to pay four dollors a year the year to commence from July 1.st 1789 Seven months she has lived in the House to be given to her— Mrs Palmer is to pay 15 dollors pr year She is to have what is now upon the Garden, the fruit excepted which is Leased to Brother Adams. Mrs Palmer is to have the potatoes planted behind the House. she is to have what wood remains in the Yard after mrs Brisler moves: during her stay the wood to be in common, 2 small plumb Trees near the House to go with the house The Horse Cart sadle Bridle—Farming utensals sledge to be deliverd to the dr
        memorandum
        Deacon Webb had two ox hides one cow one stear & two calf skins[.] of Him received one Side of Leather[.] mr marsh may have taken some uncertain


Title: Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 19 June 1789
From: Adams, Abigail
To: Cranch, Mary Smith

          providence june 19. 1789
          my 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 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 balance to them. cousin Lucy has told you that I left Home about 8 oclock we proceeded to Man’s Inn in Wrentham before we stop’d 27 miles where we dinned upon Roast veal roast chickings sallad &c, west India sweet meats I ought not to forget in the desert, it is really a very good Inn. we sat off at three oclock and reachd Attlebouroug about five where we Bated & Met with mr & mrs Mason & miss Powel going to Newport. we past an agreeable Hour to gether at Six we renewed, our journey and reach’d Providence at half after Seven. we put up at daggets Inn just at the entrance of the Town Situated upon a Hill opposite the State House commanding a fine view of the River & the whole Town. we are tolerably well accommodated, but should have been much better if the Governour had not taken the best Chamber before I came, (the court being now in Session) and he has not had the politeness either to offer to give it up or to make me a visit, tho he has had much conversation with Polly and now & then takes a Peap at me from entry. my first inquiry was after a packet. I found only Browns here, he came & I like him he has a very good packet & Bears a good character himself, but Says he cannot be ready to Sail till saturday morning, the wind to day is directly against us.
        In about an hour after my arrival I received the visits of the following persons— mr & mrs Arnold, the Gentleman was one of the Committe who came to mr Adams—from the Towns of Newport & Providence mr & mrs Francis. this Lady is the daughter of mr John Brown of this Town, so celebrated for his Wealth—miss Bowen the sister to the late Governour, Col Peck, mr Robins Tuter to the Colledge & mr Shrimpton Hutchinson and Mrs Nightingale, all of whom in the Name of many other gentlemen & Ladies regreeted that I had dissapointed them in not letting it be known when I should be here as they had agreed to meet me several miles out of Town. mr & mrs Francis invited me to take up my abode with them. I excused myself, but have promised to take Tea & spend the Evening if I do not go out of Town. this morning I am to take a ride with them to see the Town & to return my visits, if I am not prevented by company but my wish is not to be detained a moment. pray write me & let me know by the next post whether my furniture is all on Board Barnard & when he will Sail— I should be glad to hear how mrs Brisler is. I left her in great affliction.
        I feel the want of mrs Brisler as a Hair dresser, on other accounts Polly does very well Matilda is well, & her finger much better. let mrs Storer know if you please— my best Regards to all my dear Friends. it grieved me to see you so dull, you used to keep up your Spirits better do not let them flagg. a merry Heart does good like a medicine we shall hear often from one an other, and the Seperation be renderd less painfull by that means—
        This moment a Card is brought me from mr Brown & Lady with an invitation to dine with them to day & that they will visit me at ten—I accept it, as Brown cannot go till tomorrow. adieu my dear sister most / affectionatly Yours.
        Abigail Adams—


Title: Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 21 June 1789
From: Cranch, Mary Smith
To: Adams, Abigail

          Braintree June 21d 1789
          My 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 the next I have not seen mr Brisler since you went away but heard that your Goods were puting on Board the vessel yesterday

        This day Twelves months I accompany’d my dear Brother & Sister to the House of God to offer with grateful hearts I hope our acknowledgments ffor the favours we had receiv’d during our long Separation from each other Providence has again call’d you from me & tho it is what I ought to have wish’d as a Lover of my country, I must mourn as an affectionate Sister, I do not know why I have found it so much harder parting now than before, but it really is so. I have more difficultis to incounter now than then. & my prospects are gloomy. this is one reason I believe— I feel as if I should want the kind Soothings of my Sisters I wish & try to be chearful I know it is my duty to be so. but I cannot always succeed— Patience & resignation are the great dutys I have to exerccesse Hope & Trust must be their attendants or the Heart would faint my wishes are not large. there is therefore the greater probability that they may be gratified— Honour without profit we have had enough of— To pay our debts, to live decently & to see our Friends in the way we have been use’d to is not an unreasonable wish? is it my Sister?— but however providence may See fit to dispose of us I hope to be resign’d— I will rejoice in the prosperity of my Friends & endeavour to find my Happinss in doing what I can to make others so—
        Before this reaches you I hope you will have arriv’d safe & made your Friends happy by your presence, I will rejoice in their joy. I will think of you as a happy circle, & place myself among you. I will repair to the nursery & play with the sweet little Boys, William do not break your little Horse & go tell mama who sent it to you—
        Pray tell me what kind of a Being they have fore a Governor in Rhode Island— I hope Polly told him whose Grandaughter she was—I was once in company with the Browns at major Fullers. There were a number of the Family din’d there Louisia must be much gratified by the new Scene which has open’d upon her— Her modest mild manners will gain her many admires. She will be flutter’d round. your watchful eye will ever be upon her I know— my dear charles will I hope guard against every temptation to evil— tell him that I love him with an affection little short of what I feel for my own son— tell him also if you please that as he has his companions now to chuse anew that I conjure him by all that is sacred as he values his reputation among the virtuous & worthy of mankind— as he would not imbitter the declining years of his Parents & wound the hearts of his Friends to be careful who he admits to call him thier Friend & associate He will write to his cousins I hope I wanted to say a great deal to him before he went away but I could not—

        I thank you my dear Sister for every expression of your affection in whatever way discover’d— The suit of velvet will be very useful the contents of the Bottles will be keept to ristore the languid spirit—
        I shall expect to hear as much Politick from you as you can with safety convey. I shall feel importan then among your Friends— I am so pleas’d with Judge Dana & Lady that if I should go to cambridge I shall make them another visit, & must have a little politicks to talk of you know if I should—
        remember me affectionately to mr Adams to mr & mrs Smith & all my Friends & accept / the warmest affection of your / grateful Sister
        Mary Cranch
        you cannot think how I am worried with my Girl She is not worth a copper I am in chase of another [. . .] could not come


Title: Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 28 June 1789
From: Adams, Abigail
To: Cranch, Mary Smith

          Richmond Hill june 28th 1789
          My 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 with mr Brown & Lady. the forenoon was pass’t in receiving visits from all the principal gentlemen and Ladies of the Town, who seemed to vie with each other, to convince me that tho they were inhabitants of an Antifederal state. they were themselves totally against the measures persued by it, and that they entertaind the highest Regard and Respect for the Character with which I was so intimately connected, altho to their great mortification they had been prevented the Honour of having any share in placing him in his respected station
        Mr Brown sent his Carriage & Son to conduct me his House which is one of the Grandest I have seen in this Country. every thing in and about it, wore the marks of magnificence & taste. mrs Brown met me at the door & with the most obliging Smile accosted me with—[“]Friend I am glad to see the here” the simplicity of her manners & dress with the openness of her countanance & the friendlyness of her behaviour charmed me beyond all the studied politeness of European manners— they had colleted between 22 persons to dine with me tho the notice was so short, & gave an Elegant entertainment upon a service of Plate. towards Evening I made a Tour round the Town, & drank Tea & spent the Evening with mr & Mrs Francis whom I mentiond to you before. here the company was much enlarged, & many persons introduced to me who had no opportunity before of visiting me, amongst those Ladies, with whom I was most pleased was the Lady & two sisters of Governour Bowen. about Eleven I returnd To my lodgings and the next morning went on Board the Handcock packet we had contrary wind all Day, by which means we did not reach Newport untill Seven oclock. I had been only a few moments arrived when mr Merchant came on Board and insisted that I with my whole Family should go on shore & Lodge at his House. he would take no refusal. he sent his daughter down to receive & accompany my Neice, & came himself in a few moments with a carriage to attend me. at his House I was kindly & Hospitably Treated by his Lady & daughters. we slept there & the next morning were early summond on Board the packet. Captain Brown had very civily taken his wife to attend upon me, & accomodate me during my passage I found her a very well Bred Geenteel woman, but neither civility attention or politeness could remedy the sea sickness or give me a fair wind or dispell the Thunder Gusts which attended us both night & day. in short I resolved upon what I have frequently before, that I would never again embark upon the water, but this resolution I presume will be kept as my former ones have been. we were five days upon the water. Heat want of rest, sea sickness & terror for I had my share of that, all contributed to fatigue me and I felt upon my arrival quite tame & spiritless Louissa was very sick, but behaved like a Heroine Matilda had her share but when she was a little recoverd she was the life of us all Polly was half dead all the Passage & sufferd more from sea sickness than any of us. Charls eat & slept without any inconvenience. when we came to the wharff, I desired the Captain to go to our Friend mr MacCormick and inform him of my arrival, if he was not to be found to go to the Senate Chamber & inform mr A. who from the hour of the day I knew must be there. mr otis the secretary came to me with a Carriage & I reach’d Richmond Hill on Thursday one oclock to my no small joy I found mr Adams in better Health than I feard mr & mrs Smith quite well & every thing so well arranged that Beds & a few other articles seem only necessary towards keeping House with comfort, and I begin to think, that my furniture will be troublesome to me, some part of it I mean whilst mrs Smith remains with me. master John was grown out of my knowledge, william is still at Jamaica. our House has been a mere Levee ever since I arrived morning & Evening. I took the earliest opportunity (the morning after my arrival) to go & pay my respects to mrs Washington mrs Smith accompanied me. She received me with great ease & politeness, she is plain in her dress, but that plainness is the best of every article. she is in mourning, her Hair is white, her Teeth Beautifull, her person rather short than otherways, hardly so large as my Ladyship, and if I was to speak sincerly, I think she is a much better figure, her manners are modest and unassuming, dignified and femenine, not the Tincture of ha’ture about her. his majesty was ill & confined to his Room. I had not the pleasure of a presentation to him, but the satisfaction of hearing that he regreeted it equally with myself. col Humphries who had paid his compliments to me in the morning & Breakfasted with me, attended mrs washington & mr Lear the Private Secretary, was the introducter— thus you have an account of my first appearence— the Principal Ladies who have visited me are the Lady & daughter of the Governour Lady Temple the Countess de Brehim, Mrs Knox & 25 other Ladies many of the Senators, all their Ladies all the Foreign ministers & some of the Reps.
        We are most delightfully situated, the prospect all around is Beautifull in the highest degree, it is a mixture of the sublime & Beautifull— amidst it all I sigh for many of my dear Friends and connections. I can make no domestick arrangment till Brisler arrives— remember me affectionatly to all my Friends particularly my aged parent, to my children to whom I cannot write as yet to my dear Lucy & worthy dr Tufts in short to all whom I love yours most tenderly
        A Adams


Title: John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 28 June 1789
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Adams, John

          Newbury-Port June 28th: 1789
          Dear 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, I have been in a great measure secluded from such political information, as might afford you any entertainment, and from a proper modesty, I thought it best to forbear transmitting, any insignificant details concerning my own person.— Even now the same motives which have hitherto deterred me from writing, are not without their influence: but perhaps a moment’s relaxation from the affairs of a Nation, to attend to those of a private and domestic nature, may not be disagreeable; and if my Letter should be impertinent, I shall at least solace myself with the reflection that it can probably only add one, more to an innumerable quantity of a similar nature.
        Three months have elapsed, since my return to this Town. My Health has been restored beyond my expectations, and I have been able without injuring it, to devote a larger portion of my Time to study, than I hoped to when I left Braintree.— Lord Coke, Saunders, Hale and Blackstone have contributed to add to my small stock of professional knowledge; and I have made some researches into the doctrine of pleading. My greatest apprehensions at present, are with respect to the practical part of the profession. The skill to apply general knowledge to particular cases, is no less important than the knowledge itself; and a new piece of mechanism, will often perform its operations with great irregularity, however well it may be constructed. I remain still in a state of irresolution and suspense with respect to the place of my future residence. I have consulted Mr: Parsons upon the Subject: he said he could not advise me so  well at present, as he might after the federal judiciary System shall be established; because he knew not what vacancies might be created by that circumstance. He however hinted that if either himself or Mr: Bradbury should be removed he should recommend this place to me.— I know not what his own expectations are; but I have some reason to suppose he has his eye upon two offices; those of the district Judge, and Attorney general; either of which I believe would suit him well.— And by his putting the supposition of his being taken off from the practice I have conjectured that there was in his own mind, an idea of the probability of his appointment.— As I believe his talents are much better calculated to administer laws than to make them, I wish he may succeed. Perhaps even an involuntary consideration of my own interest, has some effect to give a bias to my opinion. I am the more free to make this confession, because I suppose the appointments are all adjusted ere this, and I shall not therefore appear in the humiliating light of a solicitor; which I wish ever to avoid; and in which I am well perswaded I should be unsuccessful were I now to assume it.
        As our Newspapers are probably transmitted to you with regularity, I can give you very little news in the public Line. The very great majority of votes by which Mr: H. was reelected, and the influence which was successfully exerted for Mr: A. appeared somewhat singular, after the event of all the contests relating to the federal elections; There have been a variety of subordinate political manoeuvres in the choice of representatives of the different towns. Those in Boston, you have undoubtedly been informed of. There was in this town a faint struggle for a change in the representation; but the old members came in with a respectable majority.
        Our general Court, after sitting, about a month, and busying themselves upon the subject of Finance just sufficient to refer it over to the next Session, have adjourned to some time in January; when it will be too late in the political year, to adopt any decisive measures. There has been a scheme on foot for sinking our State debt by means of a Lottery. From Mr: Parsons’s conversation I have supposed that the plan originated with him; and in his speculative principles he thinks it would reconcile the claims of public Justice, with the interests of an impotent debtor. The proposal was to redeem £40,000 of the debt, by refunding only £10,000 in Specie to the adventurers.— Besides the impropriety of encouraging a gambling disposition among the people, I confess the plan appears to me equally inconsistent with the dignity of a sovereignstate and with the integrity of an honest debtor. For whatever expedients may be used to conceal or disguise the iniquity of the transaction, nothing can be more clear than that where a debt of £40,000, is paid with 10,000 the creditor must be defrauded. The bill pass’d in the House by a majority of 73 to 52, but was non-concurred by the Senate.
        The High Sheriff of this County, M. Farley, died about a week since. The place has been offered to Mr: Jackson, who has declined accepting it: and Mr: B. Bartlet of Haverhill is named as the person who will probably be appointed. My Mother and Brother I suppose have arrived at New York before this. They left Boston ten days ago. If it should be convenient and agreeable, I shall ask permission to pay you a visit about the beginning of October. I mentioned September to my Mamma; but I did not then recollect that our Court of Common Pleas sits in this town in that Month; when my attendance at the office will probably be required.
        Col1: Smith and My Sister, with their children I hope are well. I know not what apology I shall make to them for not having written to them; I intend however soon in some measure to repair my fault.— I shall hope at least to hear often from my brother Charles; he is still more averse than I am to epistolary exertions; but it is an aversion which I hope he will make a point of overcoming.
        The proceedings of Congress have almost entirely superseded all other subjects of political speculation. The revenue bill has hitherto chiefly engaged the public attention. The original duty upon molasses, exceedingly alarmed many of our West India merchants, and whatever may be said of discarding all local & personal considerations, they have not I believe, been so much pleased with any Act of the President of the Senate, as his turning the vote for reducing the duty to 3 cents. This observation however only applies to a few; for I do not know that the circumstance is generally known.— The Judiciary bill has not yet been published here: I had a transient sight of a copy, which I believe Mr: Dalton sent. Mr: Parsons thinks 6 Judges will not be enough; and objects to the joining the district Judge to the other two in the circuits. Because it gives him a casting voice in affirming his own decisions.
        I am, Dear Sir, your dutiful Son.
        J. Q. Adams.


Title: Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 5–6 July 1789
From: Cranch, Mary Smith
To: Adams, Abigail

          Braintree July 5th 1789
          My 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 it has been more fortunate than in its last voyage— I heard you did not leave Providence till the monday after you left us. I want to hear of your arrival reception &c—how you found mr Adams mrs Smith & her little ones—whether she will continue in the House with you & whether you have not all been made Sick with the continue’d heat of the last fortnight. we have not had such for several years. it has fallen hard upon me because I have had such poor help. Ester Baxter has been with me for the last week or I believe I should have been quite sick. I have now got a Girl from milton who appears as if she would do after I have taught her to cook & do twenty other things which she knows nothing of at present— It is very unreasonable that such an one should demand the same wages that a Girl, has who does not want such teaching but so it is—

        mrs Palmer has mov’d into your house I have been their but a few moments since They appear to be much gratified with their situation mrs Brisler has been very well for her has been threaten’d once or twice with one of her ill turns but they went of. her eldest child will soon run alone she leads about prittily
        I heard last week from both your sons they were well— uncle Quincy was at meeting last Sabbath— what a life he leads without a creature about him in whos Society he can take any pleasure— I could not live so
        I saw your mother Hall today she was as well as usual. every thing in Braintree remains as when you left it excepting that old Benjamin cleaverly dy’d last week & that Becca Field made young—Ben—pay her four dollars for attempting to get into her Lodging room window in the night she came with a complant to mr Cranch & he write him a Letter which frightned him heartlly
        Mr Guild I hear is gone to New york by him I hope you will write me. you are in the midst of the busy world I almost out of it. I have very little variety in my circle & what I tell you in one Letter I must repeat in another. I should write oftener if my stock of inteligence was greater or more important.—
        July 6th
        I have just been gratified with a Letter from my dear sister, mr woodward took it out of the Post office this morning I am indeed rejoic’d to hear of your safe arrival after so painful & dangerous a voyage. Hear I was pleasing my self that you had fine weather & a good wind for such we had hear— I should have been distress’d indeed if I had known your situation— I have an oppertunity to send this immediately
        adieu yours most affectionatly
        Mary Cranch


Title: John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 9 July 1789
From: Adams, John
To: Adams, John Quincy

          Richmond Hill New York July 9. 1789

        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, to give yourself very little Thought about the Place of your future Residence. a few Months will produce changes that will easily Settle that Question for you. Mr Parsons’s great Law Abilities make me wish that the Public may be availed of them, in one of the most respectable Situations, and I doubt not that he will be promoted either on the State Bench or an higher.
        I Shall be very happy, my Son, to See you here, whenever the Journey may be most convenient to you and to Mr Parsons: but I should wish you to be here when the House is Sitting, that you may hear the Debates, and know the Members. Charles has been very industrious and useful to me, Since his Arrival. He is gone with his Brother and Sister, on a visit to Jamaica. I will enjoin upon him a constant Correspondence with you.
        I am of Mr Parsons’s opinion that Six Judges are not enough. his objection to joining the district Judge to the other two in the Circuits, has been obviated, by excluding him from a Voice in any Cause, which he may have adjudged before.
        Your Letter my Son is full of matter, and has given me great pleasure. I wish you to write me, once a Week.— I am at a loss to guess, how you came by the Anecdote, that I turned the Vote for 3 Cents on Molasses. one Penny a gallon, would go so far towards paying my Salary that I think the Molasses Eaters ought not to be so stingy as they are to me. but neither Molasses, nor fish nor millions upon millions of Acres of Land, will ever be of any Service to you, or even make me comfortable. I must be pinched and Streightened till I die, and you must have to toil and drudge as I have done. do it, my dear son with out murmuring. This is entre nous.— Independence, my Boy and freedom from humiliating obligations, are greater Sources of happiness, than Riches.

        My office requires, rather Severe duty, and it is a kind of Duty, which if I do not flatter myself too much, is not quite adapted to my Character.— I mean it is too inactive, and mechanical.— The Chancellor sometimes wishes to leave the Woolsack, and engage in debate. but as it cannot be done, I am content, tho it sometimes happens that I am much enclined to think I could throw a little light upon a subject.— if my health and Patience should hold out my four Years, I can retire and make Way for some of you younger folk, for one Vacancy makes many Promotions.
        if you have turned Quaker, with our H. of Reps, as from the outside of your Letter one would suspect, I think you ought to have Thee’d and Thou’d your Correspondent in the Inside.— if not, you ought to have given him the Title of Goodman, or Something, according to the Doctrine in Shenestones School Mistress.

          Albeit ne flatt’ry did corrupt her Truth
          Ne pompous Title did debauch her Ear
          Goody, Goodwoman, Gossip, N’aunt, forsooth,
          or Dame, the Sole Additions, She did hear;
          Yet these She challeng’d; these She held right dear;
          Ne would esteem him Act, as mought behove
          Who Should not honour’d eld, with these revere;
          For never Title yet so mean could prove,
          But there was eke a mind, which did that title love.

        I am my dear Child, with the tenderest / Affection your Father
        John Adams.
        P. S. There was a public Character among the Romans, who was called Prince of the Senate, Princeps Senatus, I believe. as you may have leisure I wish you would look in Livy, Tacitus Cicero and all the rest, and write me what you find concerning him.


Title: Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 12 July 1789
From: Adams, Abigail
To: Cranch, Mary Smith

          Richmond Hill july 12th 1789
          my 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 buisily engaged in arraneging my Family affairs. this added to the intence heat of the season Some company (tho for three days I was fashionably not at Home,) and some visiting which was indispensable, having more than fifty upon my list, my Time has been so wholy occupied that I have not taken a pen, yet my Thoughts have not been so occupied, but that they have frequently visited you, and my other Friends in the Neighbourhood, and tho I have here, as to situation one of the most delightfull spots I have seen in this Country, yet I find the want of some of my particular connection’s but an all wise Providence has seen fit to curtail our wishes and to limit our enjoyments, that we may not be unmindfull of our dependance or forget the Hand from whence they flow. I have a favour to request of all my near and intimate Friend’s it is to desire them to watch over my conduct and if at any time they perceive any alteration in me with respect to them, arising as they may suppose from my situation in Life, I beg they would with the utmost freedom acquaint me with it. I do not feel within myself the least disposition of the kind, but I know Mankind are prone to deceive themselves, and Some are disposed to misconstrue the conduct of those whom they conceive placed above them.
        our August Pressident is a singular example of modesty and diffidence. he has a dignity which forbids Familiarity mixed with an easy affibility which creates Love and Reverence. the Fever which he had terminated in an absess, so that he cannot sit up. upon my second visit to mrs Washington he sent for me into his Chamber. he was laying upon a settee and half raising himself up, beggd me to excuse his receiving me in that posture, congratulated me upon my arrival in New york and askd me how I could realish the simple manners of America after having been accustomed to those of Europe. I replied to him that where I fund simple manners I esteemed them, but that I thought we approachd much nearer to the Luxery and manners of Europe according to our ability, than most persons were sensible of, and that we had our full share of taste and fondness for them. The Pressident has a Bed put into his Carriage and rides out in that way, allways with six Horses in his Carriage & four attendants mrs Washington accompanies him. I requested him to make Richmond Hill his resting place, and the next day he did so, but he found walking up stairs so difficult, that he has done it but once. Mrs Washington is one of those unassuming Characters which Creat Love & Esteem, a most becomeing plasentness sits upon her countanance, & an unaffected deportment which renders her the object of veneration and Respect, with all these feelings and Sensations I found myself much more deeply impressd than I ever did before their Majesties of Britain.
        You ask me concerning politicks, upon my word I hear less of them here, than I did in Massa’ts the two Houses are very buisy upon very important Bill’s the judiciary, and the Collecting Bills. the Senate is composed of many men of great abilities, who appear to be liberal in their sentiments and candid towards each other. the House is composed of some men of equal talants, others—the debates will give you the best Idea of them, but there is not a member whose sentiment clash more with my Ideas of things than mr. G——y he certainly does not comprehend the Great National System which must render us Respectable abroad & energetick at Home and will assuredly find himself lost amidst Rocks & Sands—
        My dear sister some parts of your Letter made me melancholy. are you in any difficulties unknown to me I know very well that a small Farm must afford you a scanty support and that you are a sufferer from being obliged to receive pay in paper but I know your Prudence & oeconomy has carried you along, tho not in affluence, yet with decency & comfort, and I hope you will still be able to live so. you have one daughter comfortably situated, your son will from his merit & abilities soon get into some buisness your other daughter, you have every reason to be satisfied with do not look upon the gloomy side only. how easily might your situation be changed for the worse. even if you were in possession of Riches yet there is a competancy which is so desirable that one cannot avoid an anxiety for it. I have a request to make you, desire mr Cranch to make out his account which he has against mr A. I gave cousin Lucy a memmorandum—let the balance be drawn and inclose to me, and I will send you a Receit in full This I consider myself at full liberty to do, because the little sum Lent you was my own pocket money. put the Letter under cover to mrs Smith, it will then fall into no hands but my own but cover the whole for a frank to mr A.— do not talk of oblagations. reverse the matter & then ask yourself, if you would not do as much for me?

        I wish it was in mr A’s power to help mr Cranch to some office at Home which would assist him. mr A exprest the same wish to me, but at present he does not see any, tho a certain Lady in the full assurence of hope, wrote him that he now had it in his power to establish his own Family & Successfully help his Friends and that she is sure of his Patronage—for certain purposes—to which mr A. replied, [“]that he has no patronage but if he had, neither her children or his own could be sure of it beyond his own clear conviction of the publick good, that he should bely the whole course of his publick and private conduct, and all the maxims of his Life, if he should ever consider publick Authority entrusted to him, to be made subservient to his private views, or those of his Family and Friends.” you cannot mistake who the Lady was, I know no other equally ambitious, but I presume her pretentions & those of her Family will fail, as I think they ought to if one Quarter part is true which has been reported of them. I fancy a constant correspondence is kept up between mr W——n & mr G——y and like enough with several other jealous Partizans, but I hope they will never have sufficient interest to disturb the Government. I really believe mr G——y to be an honest man. the other has been grosely misled, and I do soberly think by the unbridled ambition of one She told me upon her last visit, that she did not perceive any alteration in mr A’s conduct towards them. I am sure she must have told what was not true if she had said there was none in mine, for I feel it, and I cannot deceive. with regard to mr A he has dealt by them like a sincere Friend, and an honest Man and their own Hearts must approve his conduct, however grateing to their feelings. I am most sincerely sorry for the cause. they were my old and dear Friend’s for whom I once entertaind the highest respect
        Col mrs Smith Charles & little Jack are gone this week to Jamaica to get out of the Bustle at home and are not yet returnd. C. will not go into any company but such as his Father or col Smith introduces him to. he appears steady and sedate & I hope will continue so—Time and example will prevail over youthfull folly I trust. my Love to mrs Norten, how does she do? Louissa appears very happy, but I am obliged to keep her a mere prisoner on account of the small Pox of which there is always danger in N York as soon as the weather will permit shall have her innoculated. I find as many servants necessary here as in England, but not half as well calculated for their buisness. the distance from Town requires one or two extra as they are obliged to go & come always four, & frequently six times a day. we have to send constantly to market in addition, but not withstanding all this I would not change this situation for any I know of in Town. Richmond Hill is situated upon the North River which communicates with Albany. Pauls hook as it is calld is in full sight, & the Jersy shore. vessels are constantly passing up & down. the House is situated upon a high Hill which commands a most extensive prospect, on one side we have a view of the city & of Long Island, the River in Front, Jersy and the adjasant Country on the other side, you Turn a litle from the Road and enter a Gate a winding Road with trees in clumps leads you to the House, and all round the House, it looks wild and Rural as uncultivated Nature. the House is convenient for one family, but much too small for more, you enter under a Piazza into a Hall & turning to the right Hand assend a stair case which lands you in an other of equal dimensions of which I make a drawing Room. it has a Glass door which opens into a gallery the whole Front of the house which is exceeding pleasant. the Chambers are on each side. the House is not in good repair, wants much done to it, and if we continue here I hope it will be done. there is upon the back of the House a Garden of much greater extent than our Braintree Garden, but it is wholy for a walk & flowers. it has a Hawthorn hedge & Rows of Trees with a Broad Gravel Walk.
        how happy would it make me to see here my dears Brothers Sister Nephew Neices, and to delight them with the prospect. mr Guile & dr Craigy dinned with us yesterday. I find I have local attachments, and am more rejoiced to see a citizen of my own state than any other. Remember me affectionatly to my worthy Mother & Family to mrs Palmer & family who I hope are comfortably situated, to mrs Brisler too. I hope she will be able to come this way before long
        my Letter is written in haste the weather very hot and I too laizy to Coppy
        most affectionatly yours
        A Adams
        Tell Lucy she must write to me


Title: Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 30 July 1789
From: Cranch, Mary Smith
To: Adams, Abigail

          Braintree July 30th 1789
          My 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 chide me when I tell you that I sat & weept over it as if it had brought me some evil tydings I felt the full force of that maxim of Solomons “It is more blessed to give than to receive” But my dear Sister you must forgive me if I tell you I cannot accept your generous proposal—for tho I have not been able to return the Loan so soon as I expected I shall be in a capasity to do it some time or other— I hope soon—but I have met with so many dissapointments that I am affrai’d to promise any thing. I depended upon my dairy to discharge some small debts I was oblig’d to make in order to furnish Betsy we have lost four of our best cows in about a year & we are now oblig’d to turn off the best in our yard for a strange swelling she has under her throat which will kill her if it cannot be remov’d & so my prospect of a good dairy this summer is again blasted—but this is from the hand of a good providence & I must not complain I am sorry I have ever let any thing slip from my pen to give my Sister pain but my spirits are at times so low that I cannot always mantain that fortitude of mind which enables its posseser to behave with propriety under the various trials they may be call’d to sustain
        I often feel myself surrounded with difficulties which I cannot remove— The necessary wants of a Family & of children are more known & more felt by the mistress than any one else & they are not a burthen where they can be easily supply’d— our Farm is too small to give us a living & pay the Labour & the Taxes notwithstanding mr Cranch Labours very hard upon it himself His Watch business which is very small here & the courts is all the ways he has to raise cash— The education of a Son & the Settleing of a Daughter are heavey matters where the income is so small. We have purchas’d nothing for cloathing but bare necessarys for several years I have exerted all my strength & all my abilities to manage with prudence & [economy?] whatever came under my department but what is this towards the support of a Family— I am mortified I am greiv’d that I cannot do more to assist my Friend. His not receiving his money for his publick Services oblig’d him to borrow While our son was at college & there has never yet been a time that he could get his debt but at such a loss as we could not think of but this we should not mind if he could get into any business I say any for there is nothing which is lawful that he would not do—which would inable him to work himself out of his difficulties— His abilities & his integrity may yet procure him a living not too labourous for his health & age this is the height of his wishes & of his ambition & I will hope that something may yet turn up to his advantage we do not look up to mr A as the Lady did you mention If he should ever be able to help him to any thing It will not be because he is his Brother or his Friend only we are greatly oblig’d to him for his good wishes
        I have now my Sister laid before you some of the causes of my anxeitys—& if you can place yourself for one moment in my situation you will not say that I have no reason for my dejection—but I hope it does not arise to a sinful anxiety & discontent this is what I am constantly striving against I am naturally very chearful & having open’d my heart to you—I know I shall feel better— I have been oblig’d to wear a countinance which badly indicated the feelings of this heart least I should give pain to my Family—

        The weather has been so very hot that I have been almost wore out with that & having so much work to do I have only a little girl of sixteen years old with me She is sprightly but ignorant—
        I shall finish this sheet that it may have no connection with another which I shall write, but not to night for tis Twelve a clock now. & I cannot see streight—
        so good night my dear dear Sister


Title: Abigail Adams to William Smith, 10 August 1789
From: Adams, Abigail
To: Smith, William

          Richmond Hill 10 August 1789
          my 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 as master William my Grandchildren are much afflicted with the Hooping cough we have had a succession of extreem Hot weather, and tho we have one of the most airy situations near the city, I have sufferd much from the Heat. It would make us very happy to see you here, and if mrs Smith should not Nurse her little one, a journey would serve her Health as soon as the weather grows cooler. mr Guild gave us the slip, quit unexpectedly. I expected to have seen him before he left New-York. tho I find many good things here, there are some, which either from local attachment, or real superiority I prefer from my own state, in concequence of which I must trouble you with a commission. it is to procure me a keg of Tongues & 2 doz Hams of mr Baldwin & forward them by Barnard or any other opportunity, together with the account which shall be paid to Barnard. the Hams here are misirable so is the Butter I propose getting mine all from Massachusets as soon as the weather will permitt. present me affectionatly to all my Friends and / be assured of the sincere Regard / of your affectionate Friend
        A Adams


Title: John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 2 September 1789
From: Adams, John
To: Adams, Thomas Boylston

          Richmond Hill Septr 2 1789
          My 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 intervened. Public business my son, must always be done by somebody.— it will be done by somebody or other— If wise men decline it others will not: if honest men refuse it, others will not. A young man should well weigh his plans. Integrity should be preserved in all events, as essential to his happiness, thro every stage of his existence. His first maxim then, should be to place his honor out of the reach of all men: In order to this he must make it a rule never to become dependant on public employments for subsistence. Let him have a trade a profession a farm a shop, something where by he can honestly live, and then he may engage in public affairs, if invited, upon independant principles. My advice to my children, is to maintain an independant character, tho’ in poverty and obscurity: neither riches nor illustration will console a man under the reflection that he has acted a mean a mercenary part, much less a dishonest one— Your handwriting and your style are in my eye and judgment, beautiful— go on my son pursue your mathematics and your morals. Come with your brother, and be here at the meeting of Congress on the first of December. Then we will converse upon these and other subjects, mean time write me, if it is but a line every week.
        Your father
        J Adams


Title: Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 8 September 1789
From: Cranch, Mary Smith
To: Adams, Abigail

          Braintree September 8th 1789
          My 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 long ones the Last I put into the office a month ago last Saturday. I should have written oftener if I had not suspected that Letters directed to Mr Adams where taken out by somebody who had no right to them— I hope I am mistaken—but I cannot conceive why you have not got many Letters which have been sent you; Doctor Tufts thinks his have met with the same fate as he has receiv’d no answers to many which he has sent you. Mr Cranch wrote to Mr Adams in July & inclos’d a Letter to Mr Bond giving him an account of his sister Ebbits sudden Death. mr Bond wrote a Letter to Mr Foster a fortnight after this & had not then heard of it. I inclos’d a letter in my last to you for Mrs Brisler to her Husband she has just receiv’d a Letter from him dated the 30th of August & she says it does not appear that he had receiv’d it which makes me think mine has not reach’d you. I shall be very sorry indeed if it has not as I had written things which I should be unwitting any body should see but you— I wish you would number your Letters for the future I will mine—& I shall write by private hands as much as I can. Mr Charles Ward Althorp will return to new york soon I sha[ll wr]ite by him—. we are all well I have heard fr[om] Haverhill Newbury & Cambridg our connexions there were also in health
        old Deacon Webb has left us. he dy’d last week. Mrs Hall was at meeting a Sabbath day but complain’d much of her Eyes
        The last Letter I receiv’d from you was dated the 9th of August & gave me an account of the sick state of your Family I have been waiting impatiently to hear further I hope Mrs Smiths children will not have the cough bad. poor little creatures I feel anxious for them— I do not wonder you were all sick— The weather was so very hot here that I some times thought we should be made sick too but a finer season for every kind of produce I never saw— the air has been remarkably clear tho so very hot—owing I suppose to the thunder so frequent at the south ward
        I have seen the Fragment—

          “Her end when, Emulation misses
          She turns to envy—stings & hisses[”]

        Pray write as often as you can— It is one of the greatest comforts I have—to receive such proofs of the affection of my Sister—
        remember me kindly to all my Freinds and accept the warmest affection of your Sister
        M C


Title: William Cranch to John Quincy Adams, 1 October 1789
From: Cranch, William
To: Adams, John Quincy

          Boston Oct. 1. 1789. thursday.
          My 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 motive for writing now is to know the truth of a Report which has been industriously spread here within this week past, “that there is so great a Coolness between the P——t & V-P——t that they do not speak to each other.” I know that there are some people, (I hope but few) who wish to cherish a jealously in the minds of the good people of Massachusetts, towards the Vice President— I have some reason to think that Dr. Demigog is one— And I doubt a little whether your father’s quondam pupil, (with a flat nose) may not be another. He seems to be crazy after the phantom popularity. The aforesaid Dr. and he are very intimate, of late— It is said too that the Vice President’s influence is much diminished. And as a proof, it is said that judge Tudor has lost the Office of Attorney to this district in the federal Court— All these things are said by a certain set of people in this town, with a view to detract from the Character of a man who has done more for his Country than any other man, now in it— I have attended but very little to politics lately—but this has caught my Ear as I passed— I know not but that the distinction of Southern & Northern may have an Influence even upon the greatest Man, But I cannot believe it. The people of the new England States are crazy. They are divided among themselves. They can not see their own Interest—blind as Beetles—
        I was at Exhibition Tuesday last— Your Brother was well— Dr Tufts was in town to day—[. . .] [. . .]erting—

        I wish you would give the [enclosed?] letter, to Charles— He will be so kind as to deliver it— [. . .] you have recd your Coat— Our friends at Braintree were well this Morning—
        Your sincere friend
        Wm. Cranch


Title: Susanna Clarke Copley to Abigail Adams, 6 October 1789
From: Copley, Susanna Clarke
To: Adams, Abigail

          London Oocr: 6.th 1789
          Dear 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 gratified in retaining the friendship which flows from so good and benvolent an heart as you possess: as in this state we have very often occation to lament the seperation from those we esteem: so we have had much reason to regret the loss of yourself, and worthy Family from our society: but shall all ways take great delight in hearing of yours, and their prosperity
        Indeed my dear Madam shining abilities: (as well as virtues) are so necessary for the Public Welfare; that they will be drawn forth from the private shade of domestic Felicity, and happy is it for the world when they are; as they cannot fail of stimulateing to Virtue, and all will admire, even where they may fail of invitation— The Friends of America here, are felicitateing them selves uppon the wisdom which their Country have shone in choice of their Senators, and which we sincerely hope, will be productive of its prosperity: as well as of that, of those individuals who are acting for them. Mr: Copley desires to join me in respectful Compliments to your self, Mr: Adams, Colonel, and Mrs. Smith; it gives me pleasure to hear of the increase of Mrs: Smiths happiness; (as I look uppon every addition to her Family in that light) and most sincerely hope that they will be renderd lasting comforts to her, and hers.—
        By Captain Scoot I had the pleasure to send the Silk according to your direction, and hope I have not exceeded the price that might have been expected, I found it difficult to get a lutestring with any kind of Figure as that kind of Silk is too thin to admit of it, and the Stripes for Mourning are of so little variety and rather common; so that I have sent a gray Silk of a little better quality with a Spot, which is suitable, either for Spring, or Autumn, as well as for winter, and Shall be very happy if it Should prove to be what might be Wished for. the silk was 6s. 6d pr: Yrd: and as it was not quit so wide as a lutestring have sent 20 Yrd. instead of 18
        I should have done myself the pleasure of writing sooner had not my absence from Town prevented my knowing when the Vessels have sailed for New York: My dear Betsys health has required my spending the chief of the summer with her in the Country, and I am very sensiable that you my dear Madam; will rejoice with me in the present prospect which I have of her perfect resotration. I left her a short time since with my Father at Tunbridge Wells, as I wish her have all the benefit she can from the country before the winter takes place—
        Prehaps this may find the Docr., and Mrs Jefferies in New York as they where uncertain in what part of America they should fix when they left us, but I hope where ever it may be that Success may accompany them, we are now about parting with another Friend, this is indeed not plasant; I had much rather this pleaseing commodity Should be brought to us— by Mr Trumbull you will be informed of every particular with regard to this place as well as of your Friends in it, and therefore I will not intrude farther uppon you at this time, than to beg your acceptance of my best wishes for your / health and happiness / and beleive me to be / Madam, with great estee / Your Friend, / and, Humble Servant
        S: Copley


Title: John Adams to Abigail Adams, 14 October 1789
From: Adams, John
To: Adams, Abigail

          [Fai]rfield Oct: 14. 1789
          My 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.
        We have met with nothing but Rocks in the Road to molest us. These have jolted us very rudely but Salubriously. I shall keep Mr Dalton company to Boston at least to Cambridge.
        according to present Conjectures We shall Spend the Sabbath at Springfield. My Love to my Young Lawyer, and all the rest
        yours
        J. A.