Abigail Adams and Her Times

diary. It is enthralling reading; most of it belongs rather to history than to a sli

iding through Maine, whi

they could not do without Great Britain, they could not conquer their luxury, etc. Oated my horse, and drank balm tea at Treadwell's in Ipswich, where I found Brother Porter, and chatted with him half an hour,

h grass and water. These are important materials for history, no doubt. My biographer will scarcely introduce my little mare and her adventures in quest of food and water. The children of the house have g

her stolen breakfast, gravely observing the young crow; later, with a whimsical sm

suit Mr. Adams: he longed fo

many hours, had exhausted my health, brought on a pain in my breast, and a complaint in my lungs, which seriously threatened my life, and compelled me to throw off a great part of the load of business, both public and private, and return to my farm in the country. Early in the Spring of 1771, I removed my family to Braintre

usly and relentlessly. "Now my family is away, I feel no inclination at all, no temptation, to be anywhere but at my office. I am in it by six

intree,-still, calm, happy Brai

ember, 1772, he once more moved into Boston, having purchased a house in Queen

on his children so often as this,-never to speak ill of anybody; to say all the handsome things she could of persons, but no evil; and to make things, rather than persons, the subjects of conversation. These rules he alwa

need of mentioning her, than the air he breathed, or the food that nourished him. She was there, and that was enough. By a

d been repealed, except that on tea, which was retained as the sign and token of Great Britain's right to tax her colonies when and how she pleased. This fact, borne in mind

he favor of Heaven, so far returned as to be able to leave my chamber some part of the day. I will not make any other apology for my past neglect, being fully sensible that I alone have been the sufferer. My pen, which I once loved and delighted in, has for a long time been out of credit with me. Could I borrow the powers and

xiety to hear how much she is now oppressed and insulted. To you, who have so thoroughly looked through the deeds of men, and developed the

irm. The flame is kindled, and like lightning it catches from soul to soul. Great will be the devastation, if not timely quenched or allayed by some more lenient measures. Although the mind is shocked at the thought of shedding human blood, more especially the

at every whistle I hear, and I dare not express half my fears. Eternal reproach and ignominy be the portion of all those who have been instrumental in bringing these fears

osity of an energetic patriot who expressed a wish to see whether tea could be made with salt water." It is the only passage in that admirable work with which I have a quarrel. Boston born and bred, I cannot be expected to pass over the Tea Party with a brief word. I must recall, if only for the sake of that beating heart of Abigail Adams', that scene on the night of December 16th: the painted figures stealing from street and alley and crooked lane to the rendezvous at the Old South Church; the war-whoop ringing out, the rush down Franklin Street to Griffin's Wharf; the shouts and

old lady live

as an Isl

lived off in

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contente

n her daughter

nce a pound

nce a pound

ar mother," the

do the thi

pay a fair pr

the three-

the mother, and r

my own daugh

ite proper the d

r a tax o

r a tax o

d lady her se

off a bud

three-pence a p

r a large

servant to bri

her child

was, and almos

whip her

whip her

nveyed to the

by the oc

ng girl poured

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alled out to t

Dear Mother

y have when 'tis

r a tax

a tax fr

arrived yesterday, which are to make an infusion in water at seven o'clock this eveni

ng to a friend in 1819, "that they were no ordinary Mohawks. The profound secrecy in which they have held their names, and the total abstinence from plunder, are pr

e Acts, they were called. This is not the place to name them; be it merely said that one of them amounted practically to a repeal of the Charter of Massachusetts. Early in May General Gage arrived, with full powers as Civil Governor of

general congress at Philadelphia. Gage, hearing of this, sent a messenger post haste to Salem to dissolve the meeting. The messenger found the door locked, nor was it opened till the congress had been determined upon, and the Massachusetts committee

omination to the projected Congress, he hastened to protest against his accepting it, wi

mine. You know I have been constant and uniform in opposition to her measures; the die is now cast; I have pass

ruin and starvation of the city zealously undertaken. "I'll put Boston sevent

water carriage from pier to pier, though but of lumber, or bricks, or kine, was forbidden. The boats that plied between Boston and Charlestown could not ferry a parcel of goods across Charl

and encamped on Boston Common. The evil days had begun. Small wonder that under such conditions as these, John

s wife the first of the famous Familiar L

of your disorder. My own infirmities, the account of the return of yours, and

suffer martyrdom. It must expire. And our principal consolation is, that it dies in a noble cause-the cause of truth, of virtue, o

summer. I don't receive a shilling a week. We must contrive as many ways as we can to save expenses; for we may have calls to contribute very largely, in

its and activity since the arrival of this news than I had done before for years. I look upon this as the last

eat anxiety fo

John A

tree, "to prepare myself as well as I could for the storm that was coming on." He rode his circuit as usual, but for t

farm. Let frugality and industry be our virtues, if they are not of any others. And above all cares of this life, let our ardent anxiety be to mould the mind

usual keen attention to all he s

Sayward says, and the rest of them generally think, that Mr. Moody was one of the greatest men and best saints who have lived since the days o

ould be hired to preach the gospel, but that the minister should depend upon the charity, generosity, and benevolence of the people. This was very fl

the house. His wife was very anxious, they say, and asked him what they should do. 'Oh, never fear; trust Providence, make a fire in the ov

communication with the Deity, and of having a gre

'If it please God I kill both, I will send the fattest to the poorest person in this parish.' He shot, and killed both; ordered them plucked, and then sent the fatt

hall we do?' The doctrine was that when a person or people are in a state of perplexity, and kn

for Philadelphia, escorted by enthusiastic crowds. From this time, the Letters tell the stor

nies we have passed through. We have been treated with unbounded civility, complaisance, and respect. We yesterday visited Nassau Hall College, and were politely treated by the scholars, tutors, professors, and president, whom we are this day to hear preach. Tomorrow we reach the theatre of action. Go

ar, to make yourself as easy and quiet as possible. Resignation to the will of Heaven is our only resource in such dangerous ti

musement with our little Johnny. Tell him I am glad to hear he is so good a boy as to read to his mamma for her entertainment, and to keep

ire them with ambition to be useful. Make them disdain to be destitute of any useful or ornamental knowledge or accomplishment. Fix their ambition upon great and solid objects, and the

dams to J

ons have arisen in consequence of a discovery of a traitorous plot of Colonel Brattle's,-his advice to

has been very severe. My poor cows will certainly prefer a petition to you, setting forth their grievances and informing you that they have been deprived of their ancient privileges, whereby they are become great sufferers, and desiring that they may b

vermore awaits you from

ail A

, 14 Septe

her give a dollar for a letter by the post, though the consequence sh

Hill, digging intrenchments upon the Neck, placing cannon there, encamping a regiment there, throwing up breast-works, etc. The people are much alarmed, and the selectmen have waited upon him in consequence of it. The County Congress

d men, preceded by a horsecart, and marched down to the powder-house, from whence they took the powder, and carried it into the other parish and there secreted it. I opened the window upon their return. They passed without any noise, not a word among them till they came against this house, when some of them, perceiving me, asked me if I wanted any powder. I replied, no, since it was in so good hands. The reason they

w days after the burning of Falmouth she wrote, "I could not join today in the petition of our worthy pastor for a reconciliation between our no longer parent, but tyrant state and these colonies. Let us separate. They are

Sept

o corrupt the purity of their words and actions, that they may chill with horror at the sound of an oath, and blush with indignation at an obscene e

s to Abig

ia, 20 Sept

lity, my dear, frugality, economy, parsimony, must be our refuge. I hope the ladies are every day diminishing their ornaments, and the gentlemen, too. Let us eat

e off drinking rum. We can't let him

di

writes, dating her letter "Bost

friend-having only put off its present glory for to rise finally to a more happy state. I will not despair, but will believe that, our cause being good, we shall finally prevail. The maxim 'In time of peace prepare for war' (if this may be called a

long for the day of your return, yet look upon you as much safer where you are-but I know it will not do for you. Not one action has been brought

sire to be remembered. You will receive letters from two who are as ea

y, who were missing their father sad

, and that my duty to you may be expressed in poor writing as well as good. I hope I grow a better boy, and that you will have no occasion to be ashamed of me w

Quincy

lapped waistcoat, knee breeches, buckled shoes, coat with cuffs and buttons and all the rest of it. I trust Mother Adams was too sensible to put him in a wig, but I do not know; most sons of well-to-do people wore wigs at

ther letter of Master Johnn

ee, June

ar

f. I have but just entered the third volume of Rollin's Ancient History, but designed to have got half through it by this time. I am determined this week to be more diligent. . . . I have set myself a stint this week, to read the third volume half out. If I can but keep my resolution, I may again at the end of the

Quincy

ok, I will transcribe the most remarkable passages I meet wi

pted to read Homer before I had learned the Greek alphabet. I was mortified even to the shedding of solitary tears, that I could not even conceive what it was that my father and mother admired so much in that book, and yet I was ashamed to ask them an explanation. I smoked tobacco and read Milton at the same time, and from the same motive,-to find out what was