Transcriber's note
Minor punctuation errors have been changed without notice. Printererrors have been changed, and they are indicated witha mouse-hoverand listed at theend of this book. All otherinconsistencies are as in the original.
A Table of Contents has been created for this version.
PREFACE.
MEMOIR.
FAMILIAR LETTERS
INDEX.
Painted by BlytheEngraved by O. Pelton
From a Portrait taken at the age of 21
FAMILIAR LETTERS OF JOHN ADAMS
AND HIS WIFE ABIGAIL ADAMS,
DURING THE REVOLUTION.
WITH A
MEMOIR OF MRS. ADAMS.
BY
CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS.
NEW YORK:
PUBLISHED BY HURD AND HOUGHTON.
CAMBRIDGE: THE RIVERSIDE PRESS.
1876.
Copyright, 1875,
By Charles Francis Adams.
RIVERSIDE, CAMBRIDGE:
STEREOTYPED AND PRINTED BY
H. O. HOUGHTON AND COMPANY.
PREFACE.
Thirty-five years ago a collection of letters written during the periodof the Revolution and later, by John Adams and his wife, Abigail Adams,came into my hands. They interested me so much that I thought they mightpossibly interest others also, especially the growing generations notfamiliar with the history of the persons and events connected with thegreat struggle. The result was an experiment in publication, first, of aselection from the letters of Mrs. Adams addressed to her husband; and,at a later moment, of a selection from his replies. The first seriesproved so acceptable to the public that it ran through four largeeditions in eight years. The second, though slower of sale, has likewisebeen long since exhausted. Applications have been made to me from timeto time for information where copies of either might be had, to which Icould give no satisfactory answer. I purchased one copy, whilst residingin London several years ago, which I found by chance advertised in asale catalogue of old books in that city. I know not now where I couldget another.
Reflecting on these circumstances, in connection with the approaching[iv]celebration of the Centenary year of the national existence, itoccurred to me that a reproduction of some portion of the papers, withsuch additions as could be made from letters not then included, mightnot prove unacceptable now. To that end I have ventured to embrace, in asingle volume, so much of the correspondence that took place betweenthese persons as was written during the period of the Revolutionarystruggle, and terminating with the signature of the preliminary articlesof the great Treaty which insured pacification and independence to thepeople of the United States.
The chief alteration made in the mode of publication will be perceivedat once. Instead of printing the