Adams Family Correspondence, volume 3

Abigail Adams to John Lowell, 27 December 1779 AA Lowell, John Abigail Adams to John Lowell, 27 December 1779 Adams, Abigail Lowell, John

Abigail Adams to John Lowell

Sir Braintree December 27 1779

Your very polite reply to my Letter demands my acknowledgment. If I should find myself embarressed at any time I shall not fail making use of your kindly offerd Friendship and assistance. If Sir it will be of any service to you to receive the Hard Money giving me the current exchange it is at your Service if you will please to signify it, tho it will be but small sums that I shall exchange at a time and that as seldom as possible.

Mr. Adams has a small Farm upon which I live, and by Letting it to the Halves it supplies me with many necessaries. My family is not numerous, and my wants are circumscribed in a small compass

“Having learnt the virtue and the Art To live on little with a cheerful Heart.”

For ever since Mr. Adams engaged in publick Buisness I relinquished the prospect of any thing more than a competent support. His motives you know Sir were not mercenary and he has too much honour and Integrity to serve himself or his family at the expence of his country. I frankly own that I derive more pleasure from this reflection than wealth could bestow.

255

Excuse Sir this freedom and permit me to assure you that at this cottage I shall welcome Mr. and Mrs. Lowell whenever her Health will afford that pleasure To your obliged Friend & Humble Servant,

A Adams

LbC (Adams Papers); at foot of text: “To John Lowell Esqr. Boston.”

Abigail Adams to Oliver Wendell, 27 December 1779 AA Wendell, Oliver Abigail Adams to Oliver Wendell, 27 December 1779 Adams, Abigail Wendell, Oliver

Abigail Adams to Oliver Wendell

Sir Braintree December 27 1779

Your obligeing reply to my request demands my Thanks. I have taken the Liberty of sending 5 Guinea's to be exchanged—any time within these ten days will answer. I was told last week that exchange was at 35, but you Sir are in a better situation to be informd than I am, and I have full confidence in your kindness which forbids me to apoligize for the trouble given you, by your Humble Servant,

Abigail Adams

PS Respectfull complements to Mrs. Wendell. Be so good as to enclose the Money to me and leave it at Mr. Smiths with 1 directions to send it by a safe Hand.

RC (Hugh Upham Clark, Arlington, Va., owner of the Austin H. Clark Collection, prints of which have been deposited in MBCo). LbC (Adams Papers); omits postscript; at foot of text: “To the Honble. Oliver Wendell Boston.”

MS torn.

Oliver Wendell to Abigail Adams, 31 December 1779 Wendell, Oliver AA Oliver Wendell to Abigail Adams, 31 December 1779 Wendell, Oliver Adams, Abigail

Oliver Wendell to Abigail Adams

Dr. Madm. Boston Decr. 31st. 1779

Mr. Cranch deliver'd me your Letter with the five french Guineaus which at the Insurance Office I endeavord to hawk to the Money Voyagers. I found 30 for 1 the most they wou'd offer. Mr. Billy 1 who has purchased much hard Money told me he had offerd him 200 hard Dollars the Day before at that Rate. I have no Doubt that 33 and 35 had been given but the late Reports of a Loan being establishd by Congress and that they have actually drawn some Bills at 25 for 1 seems at present to check a further Depreciation. Part of this Report comes by Mr. H. Marchant a Member of Congress which gives it Influence. However I send you 30 for 1 and having the Guineaus by me if I can do better, it shall be your Advantage.

256 image The State of the Account I subjoin and am with my Respects added to Mrs. Wendells, Your very Humb. Servt., Oliver Wendell

5 french Guineaus			at 26/8 is	£ 6	13	4
Exchange				193	6	8
				£200
Sent to Mr. Smith
		Dolls.
1	70	70
6	60	360
2	50	100
1		45
2	40	80
1		8
2	2	4
		667	at 6/ is	£200	2

RC (Adams Papers); addressed: “To Mrs. Abigail Adams Braintree please to send by some carefull Hand.”

Illegible name; perhaps “Towles.”