Description:

Adams Abigail 1744 - 1818 Abigail Adams pens a compassionate letter about her horse "Hobby", while at her farm in Quincy. Pristine!



An ALS scripted on the first page on bi-fold stationary stock, 7.75" x 9.75", remaining pages left blank with the docket on the verso of the last leaf. Dated "Quincy July 15, 1817", and signed by Abigail Adams as "A Adams". The main fold has been reinforced with a thin strip of matching paper. Wax seal remnants and accompanying staining present to first page. Slight toning to paper with a small 1/2" chip on second blank leaf not affecting text. Expected folds.

A wonderful , compassionate ALS written by Abigail Adams, during her later years while living at Peacefield, the family farm in Quincy. Both Abigail and her husband John Adams were "farmers" at heart, with both longing to move back to their family farm, Peacefield upon John's retirement from politics. As one reads her letter one realizes just how much they must have embraced their later years in Quincy. By 1800 Abigail who lived in the White House during John's presidency was known to have said that she was " Sick, sick, sick of public life." In a November 13, 1800 letter to her son, she reflected: " The consequence to us, personally, is, that we retire from public life. For myself‰Û_I have few regrets. At my age, and with my bodily infirmities, I shall be happier at Quincy. Neither my habits, nor my education, or inclinations have led me to an expensive style of living, so that on that score I have little to mourn over. If I did not rise with dignity, I can at least fall with ease, which is the more difficult task‰Û_I feel not any resentment against those who are coming into power‰Û_ " And yet earlier in 1794 John Adams was known to have said "I begin now to think all the time lost that is not employed in farming, innocent, healthy, gay, elegant amusement! Enchanting employment! How my imagination roves over my rocky mountains, and through my brushy meadows." Abigail and John were finally able to enter the phase of their life in their "element", going back to their roots of farming as their life at Peacefield once again centered about ploughing fields, and taking in crops. A period of having come full circle, as when John and Abigail first met and married, they both shared the farming of their property for sustenance, while John also practiced law in the nearby city of Boston.

In this heart warming letter written just a year before her death, Abigail writes to Ward Nicolas Boylston, a family and business friend, about her beloved work horse, "Hobby" who the Adams were considering to sell.Most of the content of the letter expressively focuses on her wishes to ensure that "Hobby" would find a "good master" . Abigail used to ride Hobby and would describe him as a "very powerful animal" and was "perfectly sound, and good tempered" and only occasionally "spirits". Her compassion for Hobby made it difficult for her to part with him but noted to Boylston that if Hobby would "suit" him it was her preference to have the horse be with a "kind master".

A revealing ALS from this important first lady showing her love and compassion for her horse, which reads in full:

"Dear Sir, Quincy July 15, 1817

It was not untill yesterday that your letter to my son reached us. I am authorized to say to you that you may make trial of Hobby who has been worked rather hard and has not had grain, so that you see him in his worst state, but when he has had a few days rest and a good master, you will find him a very powerful animal- If he should suit you, you may take him at the price we have been offered for him, one hundred and sixty dollars. We did hold him at 80 but as we know he will have a kind master, we the more readily part with him, he has not any (illegible), never starts, is perfectly sound and good tempered. I sometimes ride with him & drive myself, but when he spirits he is too powerful for me-

We hope to see you, and Mrs. Boylston here before you depart for Princetown - a visit from you never fails to give pleasure to your friend and relative

A Adams"

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