Adams Family Correspondence ― January 1790 - December 1793

The early years of the American republic under the new Constitution marked a contentious period in U.S. history as the nation struggled to create a functioning government amid increasingly bitter factionalism. On the international stage, the turmoil of the French Revolution raised important questions about the nature of government, while war among the European powers forced the United States to rethink its diplomatic priorities and stance on neutrality. As usual, the Adams family found themselves in the midst of it all - and chronicled it extensively in their correspondence with one another. John, as vice president, faithfully presided over Senate sessions even as he was prevented from participating in any meaningful fashion. Abigail joined him first in New York and then in the new federal capital of Philadelphia when her health permitted, but even from afar, she provided important advice and keen observations on American politics and society.
All four Adams children are likewise well represented in this volume, especially younger sons Charles and Thomas Boylston, who, for the first time, appear as substantial correspondents in their own right. Both embarked on legal careers, Charles in New York and Thomas in Philadelphia, while elder brother John Quincy did the same in Boston. Their letters document the successes and frustrations they faced as young men striving to make their way in romance, politics, and their profession. Daughter Nabby cared for her growing family as her ambitious husband, William Stephens Smith, pursued various financial schemes at home and abroad. Increasingly independent, the children nonetheless continued to rely on their parents for support and advice, which John and Abigail naturally provided in abundance.
As with previous books in the series, this volume offers insight into this important American family and the frank commentary on life in the late eighteenth century that readers have come to expect from the Adamses.