Title: Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 1 April 1798
From: Cranch, Mary Smith
To: Adams, Abigail

          My dear Sister
          Quincy April 1d 1798

        I thank you for your Letter of the 20th of march which I receiv’d yesterday & for the papers you sent mr otis & Harpers Speeches are much admir’d by one party & their Wit & Satire felt by the other.

they “have bar’d the Breasts of those villains who are doing their utmost to ruin & degrade their country & have Strip’d the gilding from the Principle which they wish’d to establish.[”] it had so dazzled the eyes of the multitude that they did not percieve to what it tended I do hope the people will be roused & united. As to the Presidents resigning. it must not be thought of. there is no body who takes the least pains to inquir can be deceiv’d the more Lies they publish the less credit they will gain tis Strange that they cannot place So much confidence in a man whom they have long found to be firm & faithful as to suppose he must have the best reasons in the world for not communicating all the dispatches receiv’d from our Envoys. they must know that it might be highly improper
        I am glad the President has taken of the restriction which prevented our merchantmen defending their property it was like Standing Still & having ones house raz’d without Saying why do you So
        It was Deianira Daughter of Oeneus king of Elolia whom Hercules won from the River Achelous & afterwards married who gave him the bloody poison’d Shirt or rather sent it to him by his Servant & which made him So mad that he threw himself into the fire as he was offering Sacrefice. when Hercules was returning with his new wife he prayed the centaure Nessus to carry her over the river Evenus. which he did—but afterwards endeavour’d to ravish her, for which Hercules wounded him with a poison’d arrow. Nessus finding himself dying gave his bloody Shirt to Deianira assuring her that if her Husband wore the same he would never love another woman. She believ’d it. & knowing him to be inamour’d with Iola very innocently Sent him the Shirt—but when She found how fatal it had prov’d She Kill’d herself this is the Story as I find it in Colliers Dictionary you may know it all already. but if you did not I know you would like to have it. I had forgot it—
        I wish there was a possibility of making the Chronicle & the other Jacobin printers publish a refutation of their own Storys the Poison & antidote Should go together
        I am Sure you will be Shock’d & griev’d when you hear of the Death of Mrs Quincy. it was Sudden Mrs Greenleaf writes me She did not know She was sick till she heard She was dead She was in company with mrs Storer the Friday before & She did not mention her name. her Friends had not an Idea of her being dangerous Mr Quincys wife got to Bed at the Same time but was very ill & is So now. She does not know of his mothers death mrs Quincy was

bury’d from her Brothers upon the account of her Daughters illness. I have not had a Satisfactory account of the cause of Mrs Qs death. She has a very just character given her in the paper. She was a lovely woman & will be greatly mourn’d by her Freinds mr Quincy must be in great affliction. he was fond of his mother & knew her worth. her Sisters I greatly pity She has been a mother to them
        the death of mrs Gill was not unexpected She had almost accomplished her three Score years & ten & is gone to receive the reward of I hope a well spent life. her memory will be dear to her Friends. She has left no child to mourn for her & his honour is at liberty to Seek another rich wife
        I had Letters yesterday from nancy. the poor Girl was in great destress about her little Boy while my Son was absent Doctor May thought him very dangerous. I think by her description it must have been a Lung fever. he is now weak & feeble but recovering. She told me of your kindness to her & is very grateful the Book was very pleasing [to the] little Sick lamb.
        I was to see uncle Quincy yesterday he thanks you for your present to him. but mrs Pope Says it will be found in his trunk after he is dead as good as it is now. I have not seen him since you was here till now— he has been very well all winter & does not look a day older than when I saw him last—
        your Asparagus Beds are fork’d & Lettece Sown we have had a warm week but it was preceeded by two violent Storms of rain a little Snow & some hail
        Mrs Pope told me She would lay you down some Butter if she could, but they were raising Six or seven calves & were oblig’d to Supply their work people with Buttler. you will have five or Six cows at home which will give you Butter for your Tea table if you get a milk Cellar— my paper bids me be concise. a great deal of Love can be put in a little place accept […] you for the President & your Self the tenderest affection of your Sister

          Mary Cranch


Title: Abigail Adams to John Quincy Adams, 4 April 1798
From: Adams, Abigail
To: Adams, John Quincy

          my Dear Son
          Philadelphia April 4 1798

        I embrace this opportunity by mr Thornton Secretary to mr Liston the British Minister to write too you, and to Send you two Speeches upon the Foreign intercourse Bill, one by mr Gallatin, and one in reply, by mr Harper.
        I wrote to you last week by Way of Hamburgh: but we are still without a line from you of a private Nature; and have only learnt of your arrival at Berlin from your Letters to the secretary of state of Novbr 10 & 17th.
        At this Eventfull period you must be greatly anxious for the

welfare of your Country; I wish it was in my power to remove your solisitude; but the present Rulers of Franc appear determined to drive us into War, or oblige us to submit to all their unjust and iniquitious depredations upon our commerce; and to all their evil machinations, against the Peace order and happiness of our Government.
        Our Envoys to France are not yet returnd but they have reported to the Executive; that they have not any hopes of being received, tho they have waited five months for the purpose. In concequence of their communications, the President has thought fit to send the inclosed Message to both Houses. the purport of it, is considered in different Lights by the different Parties in the House. on one side they call it; an ultimatum, which is to decide the question, Peace or War. on the other; they contend that the measures recommended are merely defensive, and such as the safety security and independane of our Country loudly calls for: these are the subjects now in agitation. after what is past within your view for these 5 years, you will readily believe that the Government is encompassed with many dangers, and difficulties. wherever the Breath of French influence has been blown, Kingdoms and Countries, have more or less been agitated by the centending Huricane
        The projected invasion of England is an attempt which I cannot permit myself to consider in a Serious light, or rather the success of the undertaking, for the benifit of Mankind. I believe we ought to wish it might be attempted, with every hope and wish that it may prove as abortive in reality, as it appears Chimerical in Idea. The House yesterday past a vote of call, for the Instructions to and dispatches from our Envoys; and to day they will receive them. they cannot therefore any longer complain that they are calld upon to Legislate in the dark.
        It would be improper for me to make any remarks. I can only add a hope that we may be induced to act, as a wise free, prudent and united People, and then with the Blessing of Heaven, we need not fear What Man can do towards us.
        we are at present in the enjoyment of Health and of Plenty, but too supine; too regardless of the future, we hug the blessing we possess; and are loth to believe them in jeopardy. we want those strong passions roused, which awaken the faculties, and which suffer not a particle of the Man to be lost. There is says an admired Author, a courageous wisdom there is also a “false reptile prudence, the result not of caution but of fear, An abject distrust of ourselves, an

extravagant admiration of the Enemy.” this has been too much the case of our Countrymen, nor has it yet been intirely eradicated, tho a great Change has been wrought within these 2 years past.
        I shall write to you by every opportunity, and most ardently long to hear from you and from yours. Mr Johnson has not received any Letters from you as yet or I am sure he would have communicated the intelligence as I frequently write to, and receive Letters from mrs Johnson. I have been dissapointed in her not comeing this winter here, and have little hope of seeing her untill an other Season; my Love to Mrs Adams and to Your Brother Thomas. I had Letters fr[om] N york last week. our Friends there were all well. Your [Father] Send you his Blessing. you know the reason why he does not write more frequently. in that respect I feel that I have the advantage of him.
        I pray Heaven my dear son to preserve your Life, and to increase and continue your usefullness, for Providence has destined you to the service of your Country
        I am your ever affectionate / Mother

          Abigail Adams


Title: Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 4 April 1798
From: Adams, Abigail
To: Cranch, Mary Smith

            dear sister
            April 4 1798

          The eastern post will go out this morning and I take my pen to thank you for your Letters of the 20 & 26th of March. we had received intelligence of the wisdom of Roxbury & Milton, their petitions having reachd their Representitives in Congress. the reply to them may be found in the dispatches of our Envoys yesterday communicated to congress. The publick exegiency of our Country, and the real in Some, and the Pretended unbelief of others, produced a torpor, and an indicision which call’d for Conviction & proof as strong as holy writ, that all, and more than was exprest, in the Presidents last message, was necessary to be done to put our Country on its gaurd, and to inspire them with a determined resolution to preserve their Rights their freedom and independance all of which are attack’d by the most base profligate and abandoned Culprits which were ever permitted to scourge the Nations of the Earth; the Algerines lose all their venality & tyrranny when Compared to them.

          The Proofs of this will now be lade before the publick, as soon as they can be printed out of fears for the safety of our Envoy’s they would not have yet been published, if the House of Reps’ had not calld for them. Gallitan, the sly the artfull the insidious Gallitan knew better than to join in the call. Giles was heard to say, to his Friends in the House—you are doing wrong to call for those dispatches. they will injure us— These Men knew that the President would not have exprest himself in such strong terms in his message, if he had not possesst convincing Evidence, and tho they lie to the publick, they believed all that was asserted in his Message, “that all hopes of accommodation was at an End.[”] I have never seen the Dispatches, but I have learnt from the Members who yesterday visited me, what I had before suspected, that Tallyrand & the Directory would have been bought. the wretches even stipulated a certain sum to be paid them for the Presidents, saying in his speech at the opening of the summer session “that we ought to shew France that we were not a degraded People” they wanted to prove him deficient in knowledge, a false man by making us tributary to them and that by the consent of the very ministers he had Sent to negotiate with them but I will not mutilate further, what I have only learnt by incorrect details. as soon as the dispatches are publishd I will send them to You— The Jacobins in senate & House were struck dumb, and opend not their mouths, not having their cue, not having received their lessons from those emissaries which Tallyrand made no secret of telling our Envoys are Spread all over our Country; and from whence they drew their information. I believe S   n is not too scrupelous to take a fee. we are ensnared. we shall be destroyd unless the snare is broken, and that speedily. thus you see Town meetings can judge!
          I was much shockd yesterday at reading in the Paper the Death of Mrs Quincy I had only heard by way of Mrs otis the day before, that she was unwell. what was her complaint? it must have been sudden I think, or you would have mentiond it. the Glory of the family is departed. mrs Quincy was in all respects the first Character in it. I mourn with all her Friends most sincerely, for by them her loss must be deplored. Mrs Gill is an other of my Friends & connections whose loss I lament. she was however at an age when we could not expect her much longer continuence, yet I feel these ligaments giving way one after an other. I feel their loss to society and the warning voice to myself—“this Lifes a dream an empty show.”

          How is your Weather? last week we had three or four days when we were obliged to sit with our windows open and for these three days past we have had a voilent east storm of wind and Rain we had sallid, and the Trees in our yard are budding & would have Blossomd in a few Days— the Roads had got tolerably good so that I just began to ride out of Town but this great rain will spoil them again.
          If we have many troubles we have also many blessings amongst which & not the least I consider Health. both the President & I have enjoyd our Health better this Winter & spring than usual, but the constant care application and anxiety will wear out the firmest constitution.
          I received cousin Betsys Letter and shall write to her soon—
          Your truly affectionate / Sister

            Abigail Adams

          I send you a pamphlet just publishd, said to be written by a mr Hopkinson a young Lawyer, whose father was a judge & Author of the battle of the Kegs.


Title: Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 5 April 1798
From: Cranch, Mary Smith
To: Adams, Abigail

            My dear Sister
            Quincy April 5th 1798

          I last week had to inform you of the Sudden death of my much value’d Freind Mrs Quincy I Now have to acquaint you that last Sunday afternoon in the midst of his Sermon Doctor Clark was struck with an apoplexy & fell down— after he was got into the carriage to be carry’d home he came a little to but Soon seem’d to fall asleep & into a Suoun out of which he never wak’d & ceas’d to breath about 3 oclock the next Morning his Freinds the Society to which he belong’d & the community at large have met with a great loss. he was a very useful Minister to his People. & such a Friend in trouble & affliction as renderd him like a Brother— He was visiting at Mr Greenleafs this winter when I was there. & I observ’d to him that I thought he was growing too corporlent. he Say’d he found himself short-breath’d when he walk’d he look’d Strangely to me about his throat & under his chin. his voice was observ’d to fail a moment or two before he fell. how Strange my Sister that we Should place any dependance upon a thing So uncertain as life for in the midst of life there is death— Sucky warner Still lives but is gradually failing. She has not a wish to recover She has brought her mind to be resign’d & does not wish to again form any ties which she has found so hard to break
          we have had a Strange rumour here for Several days. tis Said that mr Giles had Shot mr otis in a Dual I hope tis not true. we are disgrac’d enough already by the behavior of Some of the members of that house. tis greatly to be lament’d that Such unhappy divisions are to be found where uninimety & firmness is so necessary
          I have been reading Sipios Strictures upon mr munroes conduct. tis greatly to be regreted that we Should have had Such a minister abroad especially in France I wonder that he was not recall’d Sooner. there is no Saying how much mischief he might have prevented but it appears he did not try to prevent any. he ought to be Severely punish’d. Is he weak enough to suppose that what he has publish’d is a vindication of himself. I Should Suppose no person could possibly offer a better justifecation of the late presidents conduct in recalling him & leave no blame upon him except for suffering him to stay so long & what can the Ve. President Say for the part he has acted— oh dear! what a Nest of Vipers do we nourish—

          we have had a Stormy week the Sun has not for four days till this afternoon. It is fast day I have been to meeting Mr whitman has given us two good Sermons. he is ingag’d for three months. mr whitney would not go down— he will get a better parish I beleive we have turbelant Spirits to engage tis well we are not all So waspish
          the Painter comes next week it has been no time to paint exceep last week & then he could not attend The Doctor hir’d mr Soal & the day after he was taken with the billious cholick & has Scarcly been able to set up long inough to have his Bed made Since they got old mr Bass to attend to him night & day. he has been Sick a fortnight I have been to see him he has had great pain & much of a fever. he is better but can set up but little it has been a great addition to mrs Porters work. She has much to do with work people. & her other cares & She is not very Strong. If wine Should be want[ed] for mr Soal I know I may take it for him & Sh[ould] not wait for leave from you as you gave me […] [ge]neral orders
          The Doctor sent me a letter to inclose [. . . .] I shall do it— If I ply you too close with Letters you must tell me So.
          adieu my dear Sister most affectionately

            Mary Cranch

          Mr Cranch desire you to accept his Love & thanks for the last Pamphlet he has read it with pleasure & pain
          cousen Betsy goes tomorrow


Title: Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 7 April 1798
From: Adams, Abigail
To: Cranch, Mary Smith

          my dear sister
          April 7th 1798

        The senate on thursday voted to have the dispatches from our Envoys made publick, and orderd them Printed, but not the instructions. I hope however that those too, will be published; the People will then be convinced that every word Containd in the Presidents message of the 19 of march can be justified both by the instructions given, and by the dispatches received, and that what Jugartha said of Rome is literally applcable to France. when the Instructions were read in the House, the words of milton might have been applied to the Jaco’s

          “Abash’d the Devil stood
          And saw virtue in her own Shape
          How Lovely—”

        not one of the clan have dared to say, that they themselves would have been willing to have conceided more; or that more could have been granted “consistant with the maxims, for which our Country has contended at every hazard; and which constitutes the basis of our National Sovereignty” Some of those who have been voters, more than speakers, came forward and declared their intire satisfaction in the conduct of the President and their conviction of his sincere desire to preserve Peace,—their astonishment at the profligate Demands of France, and an abhorence of her conduct. these are Some of those who have been decived and declare so, but their is yet a Number of a different sort, those whom the French boast of as their Partizens who will not leave them, very wicked men, who tho now convicted will only shift their ground, retreat for a little while seeing the current without doors sits so strongly against them; but return to the Charge again, as soon as their plans are concerted and matured. it is however come to such a crissis, that they will be adjudged Traitors to their Country. I shall not be able to send you the Dispatches untill twesday next. in the mean time I inclose you Fennos paper which will give you a few of the out lines. If the communications should have the happy effect which present appearences

lead me to hope, that of uniting the people of our Country, I shall not regreet that they were call’d for. out of apprehension what might prove the result of such communications to our Envoys, if they still remain in Paris, the President forebore to communicate them and in his Message was as explicit as was necessary for those who reposed confidence in him, but such lies and falshoods were continually circulated, and base and incendary Letters sent to the house addrest to him, that I really have been allarmd for his Personal safety tho I have never before exprest it. with this temper in a city like this, materials for a Mob, might be brought together in 10 minuts. when the Language in Baches paper has been of the most insolent and abusive kind when Language in the House of Rep’s has corresponded with it, and anathamas have been thunderd out by members without doors, and a call upon the people to Humble themselves before their maker, treated with open contempt and Ridicule, had I not cause for allam? but that which was meant for evil, I hope may terminate in good.
        I am not without many fears for our Envoys. the wretches may imprison them and since they avow Algiers for their pattern, oblige us to Ransome them at an enormus price; they are like the three Children in the Furnace— I wish they may have as safe a deliverence, but none of these fears should transpire. poor mrs Gerry with such a family as she has, may be very misirable with the apprehension if she should know that it is feard they will not be permitted to leave France.
        Let mrs Black know that my Little Ward has quite recoverd from the Small pox— I expect it here tomorrow.
        I have received cousins Letter and have answerd it by a little Box which is to be put on Board a vessel going to Boston committed to the care of mr smith & addrest to him. I shall say more to her when I write to her upon the subject.
        I know not when I shall see you, but I exhort the Members to dispatch business so as to rise in May. I hope their will subsist more harmony & union Peace and good will in the House than has appeard this Session. may the people be united now they have before them such proof of the base veiws and designs of France to Plunder us of all we hold dear & Valuable, our Religion our Liberty our Government and our Property—
        My kind Regards to mr Cranch to Mrs Welch to sister smith, and all others who interest themselves in the happiness of your / Ever affectionate sister

          Abigail Adams


Title: Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 9 April 1798
From: Adams, Abigail
To: Cranch, Mary Smith

            My Dear sister
            Philadelphia April 9th 1798

          I wrote you on saturday that I would forward to you the Dispatches as soon as they were out. I accordingly inclose them. they exhibit a picture of National Degradation and unparalled corruption, which presents Burks picture of the French Nation, not as the product of a heated imagination, but as real Life. “out of the Tomb of the Murdered Monarchy in France, has arrisen a vast, tremendous, unformed spectre, in a far more terrific Guise than any which ever yet overpowerd the imagination, and subdued the fortitude of Man, Going strait forward to its End, unappalled by Peril, unchecked by remorse, despising all common maxims, and all common means. The poison of other states is the food of this Regiside Republic.[”] it would be happy for America to cut off all further

connection with her, and to repel her Arts her Arms and her wiles, by that fire and Brimstone to which her crimes destine her. They have repeld our advances for acommodation with scorn they are an Enemy to whose Virtues we can owe nothing. if we possess virtue, if we possess Union of sentiment, and Independance of spirit we Shall have little reason to dread the force of their Arms at the distance we are removed from them, and their resources are pretty well drained by their eagerness for Plunder, and their avowal to sacrifice all for money. even the Presidents speech at which they have the insolence to pretend they are offended, may be expiated by money!
          In the records of Pride there does not exist so insulting a declaration. It is insolent in words, in manner but in substance, it is not only insulting but alarming. it is a specimen of what may be expected from the Masters. Some are disposed to give to our Humbled Country.
          The senate have directed the instruction to our Envoys to be publishd. the World will then see that our advances were honorable candid and generous, and that nothing further can be done consistant with our National Independance, untill France changes her Rulers and her measures—
          We must prepare to defend ourselves.
          My dear sister I turn from the painfull subject to the Rural delights which are just opening upon us here. the willow assumes its lost verdure and is cheering the prospect by its coulour so gratefull to the Eye. the peach blosom opens and the daisy and daffy adorn my Room. the brown hue of the Feild is changed to a bright Green, and the spring songsters assume a cheering note. my spirits are exhilirated by the Scene, and for a moment I forget the disturbers of our Peace, and the destroyers of our pleasures. I can ride out daily and enjoy the air of the Country, but my own state & cottage are the objects which I most wish to see. there are my Relatives & my Friends whom I can enjoy with out that ceremony attendant upon my Present station.
          The Death of my Friends and acquaintance affcets me very sensibly. three succeeding weeks have each been the melancholy harbinger of some new breach. mrs Gill mrs Quincy and the Sudden stroke which has deprived the people of his Charge of the most valuable Life of Dr Clark, is amongst the unsearchable Ways of Providence. in the midst of his days, in the vigor of his usefullness, he is suddenly calld to a higher & superiour station, as the reward

we rationally hope of having been a good and Faithfull servant in the vineyard of his master.
          The loss is to the survivors. that indeed is great. at such a period as the present, when the Ministers of Religion are amongst the firmmest supporters of our Government, We may justly adopt the words of Scripture and say

            [“]Help Lord, for the Godly Man ceaseth, and the
            faithfull fail from among the Children of Men”

          I intended to have written to cousin Betsy to day, but must omit it untill the next Post. I inclose a Receit for a small Box sent to Boston to mr smiths care. it is for cousin Betsy. be so good as to send to him the Receit. I forgot to inclose it to him yesterday. I have subscribed or rather mr Brisler has for Porcupines paper which will be sent by the next Post as directed, three Papers a week. I hope to get a Letter from you to day. I had the baby with me on sunday it is very well. it had a hundred Pock & for three days & nights was very sick, but is happily through. it is a quiet Little Creature. nothing would give me greater pleasure than myself to present it to the Arms of mrs Black. I feel what a Gaurdian and Parent the little orphan will find, and hope they will both live to be mutual blessings to each other.
          with my kindest wishes for the Health happiness & Prosperity of all my Dear Friends / I am most affectionatly / your sister

            Adams—

          pray my dear sister dispose of the inclosed for the use of miss Paine.


Title: Mercy Otis Warren to Abigail Adams, 9 April 1798
From: Warren, Mercy Otis
To: Adams, Abigail

            Plimouth April 9th 1798

          Have I my dear madam appeared negligent in not answering your last friendly letter jest before you left this state.— low health through the winter may be an apology— I could make several others if necessary. but it can be of no importance for you to hear often from a retired individual whose Greatest pleasure is the retrospect of past life—of departed enjoyments—of future hope from a wish to discharge the domestic and social duties within her own sphere—these have been intermixed with so much Grief and bitterness of soul; that often when I take up my pen, I am affraid of diverging to private affliction that may call up feelings that for a moment might interrupt the felicity of others—
          we may melt inwardly at a succession of painful events, but we have no right to bring forward the obtrusive scenes and call out the involentary simpathy of the happy.—
          Public subjects farther than for the amusement of the moment, I have done with.—
          you and myself have long trodden over the wide feild of politics—we have walked hand in hand—have observed the flowers that adorn it: and the thorn that peirces the heel of him who explores the eminencies: as well as those that wound the breast of him who treads over the plain, or roams in the lonely Vally.— This in our day has not been the path of peace— And I fear we have yet to weep the miseries of our Country. a Country that has struggled with adversity—Gloryed in her successes—now weakened by the bitterness of party. and spreading regret over every mind for the stigma brought on the Great Council of America: by the disgraceful conduct of some of its members.— what a prostration of character within the Dome that once echoed the voice of fredom through the land. when the Amphitions of the western world were every where revereed for their cool dispassionate reasonings: and dignified by the Wisdom and equability of their measures—
          I have frequently heard with pleasure in answer to my inquiries relative to your health that you enjoy a Great share in a clime different from your native air.— Notwithstanding the Ettiquete of station that calls for a part of your time: I have no doubt madam that you find leasure for the exercise of your pen—and though your correspondents may be numerous—I dare say before you leave the

capital of American politics—splendor information and pleasure, you will take it up for the amusement and Gratification of one: who wishes no distance of time, place, or opinion,—may ever allienate the affections of those annimated by principles that look beyond the present confused state of human affairs.—
          Mr Warren is not now at home. when he is we read the news papers on all sides—and everything else we can come at. We read st Pierre— We have studied nature before—human nature—and have seen it in all its varieties.— we in General enjoy a healthful old age— a Competence—Contentment: and peace of Conscience— Mr Adams in a letter to me once quoted a beautiful Couplet which I now repeat,—and apply.

            Here Contemplation, prunes her ruffled wings.
            And the free soul looks down and pitys Kings.—

          My respects ever await the president of the united states. you may tell him if you please that if we should ever happen to meet another personal interview, his presence might awaken some Ideas of the Divine science of politics, which he used zealously to exhort us to Cultivate.— this might also annimate to that loquacity, and undisguised Chit-Chat, that he formerly admired in your uniform friend, / and Humble servant

            Mercy Warren

          the Death of the Good and amiable Dr. Clark I know you mourn with us.—


Title: Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 13 April 1798
From: Adams, Abigail
To: Cranch, Mary Smith

          my dear sister
          Philadelphia April 13 1798

        I inclose a Letter to cousin Betsy who has been very frank with me upon the subject of her approaching connection. I hope they will live to enjoy mutual happiness—
        I believe I have been deficient in not mentioning to you that mr Greenleaf was liberated from Prison on saturday week. I have not seen him. mr Malcomb was present at Court and heard the examination. he returnd quite charmed with mr Greenleafs manners and deportment, tho not so with the counsel against him, who he said used mr Greenleaf in a very ungenteel manner but still mr G——f did not forget what belongd to himself—by which means he obtaind many advocates—
        I know my dear sister you will rejoice that I can hear from my Children publickly, that is officially, tho I have not received any Private Letters. mr King writes that he has put on board a vessel bound to Liverpool Letters from mr Adams to his Family. that vessel I presume waits to sail under the convoy granted The secretary of state has received by the British packet duplicates of Letters from mr Adams at Berlin dated 6 december—in which he writes that he was received by the New King of Prussia on the 5th of december, that the King had waved the common ussage with respect to him, considering the distance of the united states, and received him. upon presenting his Credentials, he assured the King that he had no doubt that new ones would be sent him, and that he doubted not he should be warranted by his Government in assureing him of the interest the united stats take in his welfare and prosperity, and that he should but fulfill their wishes by reiterating to him the Sentiments of Friendship and good will which he had in Charge to express to his Royal Father and Predecessor—, to which his Majesty answerd, that he was much gratified by the mark of attention which the united states had shown to the Government, and wished to assure him of his recipriocal good will, and good wishes for their happiness and prosperity. That the similarity of the commercial interests of the two Countries renderd the connection between them important, and might be productive of mutual benifit. on the same Evening mr Adams had an Audience of the Queen mother—

        This is rather different from the treatment which our Envoys meet with from the 5 Kings in France— The publick opinion is changeing here very fast, and the people begin to see who have been their firm unshaken Friends, steady to their interests and defenders of their Rights and Liberties. the Merchants of this city have had a meeting to prepare an address of thanks to the President for his firm and steady conduct as it respects their interests. I am told that the French Cockade so frequent in the streets here, is not now to be seen, and the Common People say if J——n had been our President, and Madison & Burr our Negotiaters we should all have been sold to the French— it is evident that the whole dependance of the French is the devision amongst ourselves. their making such a Noise & pretending to be very wroth at the Presidents speech, is designd only to effect a Change in the chief Majestracy. they dare not openly avow it, but the declaration that all vessels should be subject to capture which had passports on board signd, with the Presidents Signature is one amongst the many personal insults offerd— but they have sprung a mine now which will blow them up. they have discoverd a greedy appetite to swallow us all up, to make us like the Hollanders, to cut us up like a capon, and deal us out like true Gamesters—
        I sent and bought Kings Pantheon as soon as I found myself foild in my recollection
        I shall write to your son tomorrow; I have not heard lately from him
        I dont care whether Mrs Pope puts me down any butter, if she will only let me have fresh when I come home. I could never find any body who would take the pains which she does, and make so good Butter in the heat of summer.
        My Love to mrs Norton & Greenleaf. to each I have sent a simplicity cap— Respects to mr Cranch & Mrs Welch from your truly affectionate / Sister

          Abigail Adams—


Title: Abigail Adams to Cotton Tufts, 14 April 1798
From: Adams, Abigail
To: Tufts, Cotton

            Dear sir
            Philadelphia April 14 1798

          I sent you a pamphlet containing the instructions to our Envoys, and I now inclose the dispatches from them. no Event Since our unhappy controversey with France, has so throughly awakend the people to a sense of their danger as these dispatches; nor any imprest them with such strong conviction of the sincerity and candour, with which our Government has sought peace upon fair and honorable terms, as the publication of the instructions. it has for the present stoped the Current of Jacobinism, and no one is now heard hardy enough to espouse the cause of France, against our own Country; Holland is compleatly Revolutionized in the true French Stile. Charles de la Croix is sovereign he has turnd out of their Assembly & imprissoned every Man of worth and Merrit, every Moderate Man as they have been calld and has now given them a directory intirely devoted to France under his own Authority, which has been sanctioned by the Military directory in France; the last step of national degradation it is worthy of remark, that France excepted, no Kingly power has been entirely destroyd, or kingdom overturnd, but the Republicks have been swallow’d up— Great Brittain & America must now make a stand. Britain is able & powerfull united and determined. her Government is strong, and common danger has calld forth all the Aids and resources of the Country. America too may be strong if she will use the means in her power. She has this advantage, a great distance, and a numerous People— You will see Sir by the movements in this city, that the people are throughly allarmed. this morning is to be presented by the grand Ju   an address to the President, approbating the measures he has persued an other address is comeing from the merchants of the city.
          every Man countanance appears alterd in stead of the Gloom and Suspision which hung upon them, light seems to have broken in, and one would Suppose that Some good News had arrived, instead of the prospect of War—but War with union, war in defence of all we hold dear, is not So allarming as the secreet plots which were diging mines for our destruction whilst we believed ourselves

secure. amidst the universal satisfaction which seems to have succeeded a painfull state of anxiety and Suspence, one Man appears misirable, pevish and overthrown.
          The President received your Letter if he can possily get time he will write to you, but he is overwhelmd with buisness, dispatches arriving from England from Holland and from France, officers to appoint Naval & military, Recommendatory Letters to read weigh and examine that he may be enabled to make his appointments judiciously, and now addresses that he cannot get time once a week to Ride or walk, upon which his Health greatly depends but labour with support, is a pleasure to what it is to be for ever tuging against the stream. I presume tho some of our Towns have been guilty of folly, and indiscretion. when our General court meet, they will wipe it of by a declaration to support the General Government
          I do not despair of seeing you sometime in the month of June I do not think it will be earlier.
          I am dear sir with sincere / affection your Neice

            Abigail Adams

          altho the President has been censured for not at first communicating the dispatches, I believe it will be found that he acted right whilst he used only the power vested in him by the constitution he was attentive to the safety of our Envoys, and dispatches went to them by various ways. before the papers were communicated, he had in a Message fully exprest his own sense of our danger and urgd to means of defence. for this he was reviled, and abused, distrusted and scofft at. my fears began to be awakend for his personal safety, but when in compliance with the request of the House the papers were deliverd promptly and without delay, together with the instruction. “Abashd the devil stood” many of the minority declared that the Instructions were all they ought to have been they could not have given more candid and liberal ones, and it is said Giles declared that he believd he should not himself have gone so far—
          what becomes of mr Hitchbourn love of the french for us? it is like the Love of a Man, who kills his Friend, and then marries his widow— they would kill all who oppose them & then possess themselves of all we possess


Title: William Smith to Abigail Adams, 14 April 1798
From: Smith, William
To: Adams, Abigail

          Dear Madam
          Boston. 14th. April 1798

        I am much oblig’d by your favors of the 30 Ult. & 6th Inst. with the inclosures the communications from our Commiss. will, when publish’d, have the most happy effect. Many who were zealous friends to French, not long since, are now as zealous friends to their own country. I hope our Commiss. will be able to make good their retreat, before the contents of their dispatches arrive.— we have had for a few days a rumor of an Embargo I hope this measure will not be adopted if the Merchants are allow’d to consult their own interest, they may embargo themselves or not as their feelings dictate this measure is only advocated by those who are unfriendly to their

country, who wish to throw a great number of Men out of employ, to give them an oppertunity to excite their feelings & passions to obstruct the measures of Government—
        To the number of our friends whose deaths we have lately lamented, we must add Mr Carter, Mrs S. Father. he was taken with a faintness Yesterday Morning abt. 4 oClock and died in half an hour. we are now setting out to attend the funeral. he has supported thro’ life an unblemished character as a Christian & an honest Man. he was in his 83d. Year.— this event tho’ expected for some time, (added to the death of our late worthy Dr.) is almost too much for Mrs. S. I trust that time & a christian resignation to the will of Providence will restore her sperits.—
        Mrs. S. joins me in affectionate regards to you & the President.
        Yrs.

          Wm. Smith.


Title: Abigail Adams to Esther Duncan Black, 15 April 1798
From: Adams, Abigail
To: Black, Esther Duncan

          Philadelphia sunday mor’g April 15 1798
          my dear Madam

        The sooner mr Black comes to Philadelphia, the better it will be for the Child; as I was yesterday dressing for dinner the Nurse desired to see me. she came up, but not as usual with the Baby which allarmd me. I instantly inquired how it was, to which she replied very well and burst into Tears. I inquired what had happend? she

replied that mr Black had been the Evening before and taken the child from her. she said she expostulated with him, and begd him not to take it, untill he had informd me; it was of no avail; [“]let it then stay till the morning. No it should go directly. but why? have I not taken good care of it have I not watchd it night & day through the Small Pox, and now it is just recovering its strength, you take it from me, to kill it. she says she was Angry.” no persuasion would prevail. she says, mr Black told her, he was determined to take it away out of spight, for that the doctor had brought in his Bill the day before of 30 dollors for innoculating the Baby, her child, and one in the house belonging to a woman whose child would have been exposed by the others, and which child I had told the doctor I would myself be answerable for, and that he had pay’d the Bill. I was sure it could not be so. I supposed, what was really the case, that the doctor might have Sent his Bill in, for his attendance upon mr Hall during his sickness as dr Cox & he were jointly concernd. I immediatly wrote to the dr I inclose you his answer I then wrote to mr Black, and told him I was sorry he should think it necessary to take the child away as it appeard to me to be very well taken care of, and I hoped he would be so kind as to restore the child to the Nurse again, that if any Bill had been presented him for the innoculation of the Children it was through mistake, as no charge was ever intended to be made to him. I thought I would let him know, that I knew he had given this as a Reason. I added that if any misfortune of sickness or death should happen in concequence of his depriving the child of its nurse just as it was recovering its strength, I thought he could not answer it either to mr Black or to you— with this Billet I sent mrs Brisler and Betsy in the carriage with orders to take the child if they could obtain his consent, and carry it back to the Nurse, and to tell her that I would be answerable to her for its Nursing untill mr Black should come for it. they accordingly went, and were told by his Housekeeper, that he was not at home. however mrs Brisler was not content; she went to the store where she found him, and deliverd my Note, and requested his permission to take the child to the Nurse. he said it was so expensive keeping it at Nurse that he thought to have it weand, and then he had such a Bill to pay for innoculating the children. Mrs Brisler replied it could not be for that, as I had just received it, from under the doctors Hand that no Bill had been offerd him on that account. he said no more on that subject; but went into the House and consented to let it go for a fortnight longer. the woman who ever she is, appeard very

Angry & said she would carry it herself the next day. Mrs Brisler said she had come in the carriage on purpose to take it, and she should be glad to report to me that she had deliverd it to the Nurse the House keeper tried to get an opportunity to speak to mr Black, but mrs Brisler followd him so close that she would not let her. after some delay to find the Bonnet and Cloak, she deliverd the Child to them and they carried the Baby to the Nurse, to the great joy of the dear little orphan who stretchd out its Arms and cryd as bad as the Nurse.
        mr Black told mrs Brisler that he did not know whether he should let it go if his Brother came for it. she replied; that, was a subject which she had nothing to do with, that I certainly could have no interest in the Matter, but what I felt for an orphan child, whose parents Mother I knew, and whose Friends had requested my attention to it— Both Betsy and mrs Brisler think mr Black was governd in this matter by the Housekeeper—as he appeard to be affraid of her resentment.
        I received the Bundle you sent for it, and had sent it to the Nurse. they were exactly the things she told me last sunday that she wanted for it, only that you had been more liberal than her request. this was an other source of Resentment to mr Black, that so much attention should be paid to the child, and So little to him.
        I think the sooner mr Black can sit out the better. if this Letter reaches you by saturday next, it will be a fortnight or 20 days before mr Black can get here from this time. that will bring it into May when the roads will be well setled, and if he should take the child away again, it will not be in my power to do any thing more.
        my kind Regards to mrs Beal, who I am sorry to learn is unwell again. I cannot say when I shall see you but hope it may be in June. when you see mrs Lamb my compliments to her.
        Be assured my dear Friend of the / Regard of

          Abigail Adams—


Title: Abigail Adams to William Smith, 15 April 1798
From: Adams, Abigail
To: Smith, William

          Dear sir
          sunday April 15 1798

        I inclose a Letter to you for Mrs Black. as there is but one post a week for Quincy, it may probably lay in the office Some days, and it is of conquence that she should have it immediatly as it respects an orphan Baby which I have under my care here. you will be so kind if mr Black should not be in Town when you receive it to send it to mr Lambs with a request to them to send it to Quincy immediatly— Since I wrote you last nothing very material has taken place in the opposition Line, but the cementing of Hearts, and the Union of mind increases. a very handsome address manly & firm was presented by the Grand Jurors of this state to the President acknowledging the Wisdom of his Measures, their confidence in him and their determination to support the Government, not like the Cambridge support, by opposing, but by uniting with the different Branches of the National Government. on twesday a smiliar address from the Merchants will be presented. I do not know how our state can wipe off the stain, from themselves, but through the legislature when they meet. it was an object with the Jacobins here, to sit on foot an opposition in Massachusetts, that they might strengthen themselves here by saying as they already have done, that the state from whence the President originated, is foremost in opposing his measures, but they will change their Sentiments I presume, or they will stand nearly alone—
        The fish came safe we have had a report that our Frigate sunk in the hale storm. it was not however credited. you may mention to Dr Welch, that young Wier will be made midshipman I have been this afternoon to hear dr morse, and have been highly Entertaind. he preach’d for dr Green— We have a number of Bostonians here at present.
        My kind Regards to Mrs smith, to dr & mrs Welch and to mr & mrs storer, Green and Aunt Edwarsds—and all the young folks in a Bunch. I wish I had them here to grace my Drawing Room. who could be so foolish as to make such a Pother about a few words between mr Giles & otis, neither of whom I believe wisht to measure swords. yet they must make a duel of it— Giles is in very bad Health—and will not come again tis said—
        we yesterday received Letters from mr Adams at Berlin and from

Thomas, three days after they reachd Berlin & whilst they could get no better accommodation than a Paltry Inn, Mrs Adams was taken dangerously sick, and before She was able to rise from Bed, Thomas was Seizd with an inflamitory soar Throat & fever poor mr Adams was nearly out of his wits, in a strang Country, not a human Being whom he knew, and even the common language he could not speak. happily he says, he found a Good English Physician When he wrote, mrs Adams was recovering, and Thomas had got quite well. the New King had waved the ceremony of new Credentials and received him upon his old one, which was a stretch of civility not shewn to others, in consideration of the compliment made his Government by sending a minister, at which the King appeard to be much pleased
        adieu my dear sir / yours affectionatly

          A A


Title: Cotton Tufts to Abigail Adams, 17 April 1798
From: Tufts, Cotton
To: Adams, Abigail

          Dear Madm.
          Weymouth April 17. 1798

        It is now past Ten oClock Am. and a violent Snow Storm which began about 7 oClock this Morning still continues, the Thermometer stands at. 32. and has not been much lower in any Snow Storm We have had in the Winter past— Our Winter has been severe, the Month of March cold & stormy, April hitherto has been a continuation of the Scene, but Two or Three Days of fair Weather thro the

Day, since its Commencement. Our Progress in Farming & out Door Business has been greatly retarded— the Earth is filld with Water— if Warm Weather should come on, Vegetation will be very rapid— Had not the Weather & other unavoidable Hindrinces prevented—I should have had the proposed Building raised & covered before this Time— The Frame is ready for raising, Windows already made, & the necessary Stuff upon the Spot— the Building will be more expensive than I imagined, but will I hope embrace all Your Views— Poor Soule was taken sick the very Day I engaged him & has been confind ever since, which has been much Trouble to Mrs. Porter— at first he was attacked (as I was informed by dr Phipps) with the Bilious Cholic, it was several Days before his Bowells could be opend, after this a Losness with Pains in his Bowells similar to the Dysentery came on & continued for 7 or 8 Days, attended with a Fever, next a Constipation of his Bowells ensued with severe Pain— I have visited him with Dr. Phipps for some Days past and find that his Bowells are deeply obstructed, and I think there is much Danger of his falling into a Dropsical State, unless a Mortification should end the Scene sooner. His Brother at present supplies his Place on the Farm— Mr. Lane began Yesterday Morning to paint the Rooms, having waited a considerable Time for a dry Season for the Purpose—
        I am fully in Opinion with You, That You could not have found any Couple that would have suited you better than Porter & his Wife, they are both highly valuable—and ought to receive every Encouragement— We cannot think that it would be for your Interest to hire Tirrell by the Month, nor indeed at any Time more than what absolute Necessity may require— Hitherto but little wuld be done in the Garden, the Ground being too Wet & heavy— Stutson has put the Strawberry Beds in order, and we shall get on with Gardening as fast as possible—
        Yours of the 29 & 30th Ulto. I recd. last Week, at the latter End of which the Communications of the Presidents Instructions to our Envoys and their Dispatches reach’d us; There is not a candid Mind in America, but must allow, That the President has done all that is incumbent upon him, to produce a Reconciliation & Intercourse with the French Government and all such I think must allow that our Envoys, have submitted to a Mortification, that nothing but a Desire of Peace, would have sufferd them to have endured, and all such must also allow that the Directory and their under workmen

have acted like themselves In short, it appears to me, That there is not a Person in whom a spark of Honesty remains, tho heretofore misinformed & misguided, who will not be convincd by these Communications, and I hope converted— but there is a Class of People, Slaves to Vice & Corruption, that will Still persist, in refusing all Light & pursue their vile Purposes, even if possible to the Destruction of their Country—
        It may be fortunate for us, that Money, Money was demanded our Countrymen will be awake at this Cry and stare not a little.
        I have not said half I wishd to have utterd but I must break off and only add, That I feel much for the President and pray God to guide him by his Wisdom, guard him by his Providence and enable him to steer our Political Vessell safe amidst all the Storms & Tempests that attack her—
        Sukey is verging towards the close of Life and will I trust make a hapy Exit—
        Yours Affectionately

          C. T—


Title: Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 20 April 1798
From: Cranch, Mary Smith
To: Adams, Abigail

          Dear Sister
          Quincy April 20th 1798

        I have read the dispatches from the Envoys with as much astonishment as the Jacobins in congress heard them but not with those twinges of conscience which some of them must feel. those who by their false representations to that nation of the designs of the Government here & the spirit of the People in General, those who have known the truth & have ly’d to the publick, those who have been all the Session abuseing the President in & out of the House— I envy not the feelings of the Vs. President—
        I Question whether there will be a man in the united States who will not read them, & mr Otis exellent well tim’d Letter to Gen: Heath being printed in the Same paper will get read also— Dochester makes a Scrub figuer with their Petition & the article upon which they acted worded as it was in the warrent has afforded a Subject for much ridicule. I Charge the observations upon it in the centinal to mr [Otiss brevade?] & Suppose I am right. the Cobler is

williard Baxter. the Coll you know the Deacon mr How. the Abington Specimen of folly tho handsomly worded, is said to be the product of Parson Niles. but Shame will be the Portion of them all— I am told that the People who were against arming are now for fighting them wherever they can meet with a Frenchman— So true is the concluding Sentence of mr Hopkin’s observations in the Pamphlit you was So kind as to send Mr cranch, & for which he thanks you.
        It will be seen that the american Spirit can yet be rous’d nothing could be better calculated to awake them from their political Slumber than the insolent demand of Talarand & the Directory for their money. the Sound of their dollars pouring into French Coffers is greatly Superior to any marchal Musick Tis curious to observe that, the British Treaty is not amonge their list of complaints & here all their depradations were ascrib’d to it
        I inclose a Letter from Doctor Tufts— I went yesterday to see mr Soule, & found him much better. I think if he is careful he may recover your building was raising the paint on your rooms looks very well but he went away without doing your lower closet Floor notwithstanding I charg’d the Painter to do it. it was night before he had done the other parts & he wanted to return. he may be wanted to do more then he must do it. I was quite vex’d about it, because it ought to be well dry. your Bacon is brought home mrs Porter had boil’d a Shoulder of it & I think I never Saw better—
        I have got a fine parcel of Garden Seeds for you & hope to see you abound in vegitables. but as yet it has been So cold & for a week So like winter that no Gardening could be done to advantage this day is a fine one but it will take many Such to warm the [groun]d
        I find mrs Quincy had a complication of dissorders. she [had] been some time unwell but keept about house & was so well [. . . .] be with her Daughter when She was ill. mrs Dowsse was also very Sick at the same time in the house; & mrs Quincy did not attend to herself as she ought. but her dessorder Suddenly put on the appearence of a dropsey & she Sunk away instantly almost—
        we are all as well as usual, & our children—
        I must write a few lines to washington, & I am going to see Miss Paine this morning. So Must be brief. I hope to get a Letter from you tomorrow, & will write again by Mondays Mail. I wish Cousen Louissa would make a little drapery gown out of a pice of old

Linnen that we may form an Idea of it, & send me a pattern of one large enough for her & a pattern of a cap Such as I ought to wear. Cousen carried all hers Fashions to atkinson with her. a Hankerchief pattern also—
        Love to all Friend from your ever affectionate sister

          M. Cranch


Title: Abigail Adams to John Quincy Adams, 21 April 1798
From: Adams, Abigail
To: Adams, John Quincy

          my dear son
          Philadelphia April 21 1798

        It was with a mixture of pleasure and pain that I read your Letter of December 25th from Berlin No 32— it gave me pleasure to see your Hand writing addrest to me, after a painfull interval of three months Some of your communications were attended with circumstances which gave me pain, and anxiety, for my dear Louissa, whose situation under the circumstances you describe; must have been peculiarly distressing to both, her, and you. Nurterd as she ever was, under the tender care and Fostering wing of the tenderest of Parents; unaccustomed to fatigue, and inconveniencies of travelling, either by Land or sea, she has had them all to encounter, in a situation less able to bear them, than usual. happy for you both that they did not prove fatal to her. you must have had your share of sufferings new terrors, and allarms, for new and dear Connections, “even where you had garnerd up your Heart.” all your sensibility must have been awakend by a species of anxiety and distress, before unknown to you, and as woes are seldom solitary, The dangerous sickness of your Brother must have enhanced your affliction; I have enterd fully into your domestic distresses, and gratefully acknowledge the kind Providence which has carried you safely through them.—
        I wrote you largly by mr Thornton who saild from hence, in the British packet, or rather from N york; the Letters were addrest to the care of mr King. I have not omitted a month since October last, and have frequently written more than once. By this opportunity to Bremin, I send you a duplicate of the dispatches from our Envoys, and instructions to them, together with some News papers. By the latter you will see that our Countrymen are seriously allarm’d and are vigorously exerting themselves to put our Country in a proper State of defence. the effects of the communication which have been made in compliance with the request of the House of Rep’s, has made the blind to see and the Deaf to hear; it has been like an Electrical shock, as far as it has yet extended. The instructions which were communicated at the same time, were so candid so liberal, so

fully up to any thing which the Party themselves had ventured to a vow, that the words of Milton might justly be applied,

          Abash’d the Devil stood,
          And saw virtue in her own shape, how lovely?

        It would be difficult for you at the distance you are; to conceive the change which has taken place in this city; the center of foreign influence, and Jacobinism the Real French Men, the unprincipled Jacobin, the emissaries of France remain unchanged, but real Americans who have been deceived, and betray’d by falshood, and deception; are the mass of the lower class of the people. they are uniting & united, and I would fain hope that the Hydra monster of Jacobinism is crushd never to rise with such mischevious effects again. those in Congress who dare not now act, fearing the voice of the people will cry out against them, whom they have deceived, are falling off, and going home. Giles, Nicholas, Clayton Clopton from Virgina, are gone & going. old Findly has written a Letter to his Friends in the Western County, which has by some means got into Peters paper; it is one continued tissue of Lies from begining to end. the journals of congress & senate are proofs that it is so, and the old wretch could not but know it. he will get enough of it before Congress rises— the subtle jesuit Gallatin will turn, and twist, twist & turn, but the Indignation of the House rises against him so strongly that he is quite placed in the back ground, and must quit the feild or take a less conspicuous station. After the arrival of the dispatches the President sent to both Houses of Congress the Letter of Jan’ry 8th (in which the envoys say, that they have not been received neither do they expect to be,) accompanied with a message to them. a day or two after arrived the whole Bugget which being in cypher took some days to decypher. after reading and considering them, the President sent an other message which you will find in the pamphlet I send you; that Message contains the result drawn from a view of the dispatches, but which at that time the President thought might risk the safety of our Envoys if made publick. he therefore withheld them. This Message was openly & publickly call’d a War speech, and the Jacobin Party did not fail to make the allarm general. they attempted first to stir up the Quakers in this city, but a timely address to them the morning of their meeting, by Peter, who is held in much estimation by them prevented them from petitioning against war. having faild here, there next step was to

excite meetings in more remote parts of the Union; and to procure them in the Presidents own state accordingly through the influence of Gen’ll Heath a meeting was held in Roxbury, then in Milton Dochester Cambridge and Abington. but before any were received here, except those from Roxbury, the House calld for the dispatches, and instructions which being communicated, produced the effect I have described and now addresses are comeing in from all quarters expressive of the intire satisfaction of the addressors in the conduct of the executive and of their determination to support him, and to adhere to their Government. some you will find in the papers I send you, others are not yet made publick. N york & Baltimore are following this city & state. York Town Presented one yesterday, and the one inclosed was presented to day. I send it you to prove the change wrought—

          [“]They seem already to have quench’d seditions Brand
          And zeal that burnt it, only warms the land
          The jealous Sect’s that durst not trust their cause
          So far from their own Will, as to the laws.
          Him for their umpire and their synod take
          And their appeal alone to Ceasar make”

        I heard last week from mr Johnston’s and Family. they were well. I mournd with you, and with all good people the loss of Your much esteemed Friend Dr Clark of Boston of whose sudden death I gave you an account in my last Letter
        To my dear Thomas I will write by the May packet. I am sorry he is so great a sufferer by his mother but the Rheumatism is an hereditary Gift I fear.
        I wrote to mrs Adams in answer to her kind & joint Letter. I hope she has received it. I wrote to you and to Thomas whilst I was at East Chester, about the 6 or 7th of November— your sister also wrote to you at the same time— that your Father does not write you often, you can easily devine the cause— with Love to Mrs Adams and Thomas, I am my Dear son affectionatly / your Mother

          A Adams


Title: Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 23 April 1798
From: Cranch, Mary Smith
To: Adams, Abigail

          Dear Sister
          Quincy April 23d 1798

        I write now merely to inform you that I have reciev’d your two Lettes of the 9th & 13th of this month & Shall answer them by the next mail. I reciv’d them both last Saturday with the instructions & dispatches— I do not wonder that the Jacobins in Senate house & every where else Should be Struck dumb.— do you really Suppose Galletan Sinscere in his declarations? & what says mr Nicolas?— the chronical has got a mortal wound. it agonzes. we thank you my dear Sister for all your communications. I wonder how you have preserv’d your health thro So much trouble & anxiety as you have had to incounter this winter. but I feel as if they were over as it relates to the Sentiments of the People & as to France She has sprung a mine which will distroy her influence here. the Southern States will assuredly become a prey to their Slaves if they do not take great care. how blind they are?
        Doctor Tufts has left the inclos’d memorandom for me to send you. we think you had better have two of those chambers thrown into one for a Library it will be much larger & more pleasenter than the old one. that will make a Bedroom large enough for mr Porter when the entry & Stairs are taken from it. I think you would like to have a chimney in the Library— take in the two east chambers would be furtherest from the noise of the Family. the Doctor is concern’d about the expences exceeding what he at first calculated & does not know what to do about mentioning it to the President he knows him to be burthen’d with publick troubles & concrns enough without having much care for his private matters. you must direct what method the Doctor must persue to Stere right
        I rejoice to here mr Greenleaf is releas’d & hope he will get into better business than speculating—
        mrs Clark wants firmness of mind. She is confin’d & her children taken from her. it was a dreadful shock be Sure but She has not poverty to contend with & ought to Submit with dignity & christian resignation.
        Coll. Billings was buried a Saturday. but mr Soule to my astonishment was down Stairs yesterday & will be about again Soon I hope. Sukys lamp is not yet extinguish’d She has seem’d to be almost gone Several times & then lights up again. but the oil is almost spent—

        I was to see miss Paine a friday I found her patiently waiting her great change— She has had a distress’d winter but can chear up as she use’d to do when she was brightend by the countenance of a Friend. mrs Rhodes went with me I shall visit her again in a few days & will give her your token of remembrance. we are all well mrs Black drinks Coffee with me this afternoon She has just Sent a Letter to be inclos’d— I Shall forward cousens letters to her sister Betsy. her mother is well. we had a Severe thunder Storm last evening. I think the thunder broke close by but have not heard I have not heard again from Betsy Shaw. I am very uneasy about her cough & cold fits
        I wonder cousen Betsy Smith has not written me a line. the caps you was So kind as to send my Daughters I do not see how did you Send them? The post will be upon me. I was too sick yesterday to write or you would have had a longer Letter from your ever affectionate Sister

          Mary Cranch


Title: Abigail Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 25 April 1798
From: Adams, Abigail
To: Warren, Mercy Otis

          my dear Madam
          Philadelphia April 25 1798

        I received your obliging favour of April 7th on the 18 of this Month, for which accept my sincere thank— To hear of the Health, and Welfare, of old, and Esteemed Friends, gives pleasure to her, who sincerely rejoices, that the decline of Life, of all those, whom she highly values; is renderd agreeable by the enjoyment of Health, Peace, and Competance.— Blessing at all periods valuable but more particularly so, when active Life, yealds to the more tranquil and contemplative scenes of Age— A scene to which your Friends are as rapidly hastning, as time can carry them; and accelerated by the Burdens which are devolved upon them, when retirement from the “Worlds Mad stage” would be more consonant to their feelings, particuliarly as they have weather’d one political storm, and enterd the Harbour with Safety, it is hard to be calld again to engage in a Tempest, and with a power which defies all Laws, both humane and devine, whose Ambition knows no limits, and which seems to threaten universal Domination, and like an other Alexander, weep for new worlds to conquer—“in proportion, (to use the words of a celebrated writer) as we have been attracted towards the focus of illegality, and irreligion all the venomous, and blighting insects of our Country, have been awakened into life, and the promise of the years has been blasted”
        The olive Branch, tendered to our Gallic Allies, by our Envoys; has been rejected with scorn.— nor would the Military Despots, give to our Ambassadors, an opportunity of Presenting those liberal generous and Pacifick terms, with which they were Charged. they seemed to thing all negotiation useless, which possessd not the power of Midas— The haughtiness by which the proud repell us, has this of good in it; that in making us keep our distance, they must keep their distance too.
        having swallowd up all the Republicks with which they have contended, drained them of all their resources, they proceed from the same rapacious spirit, to imprison the Ambassador of a sovereign Power: not as alledged, for offering a Bribe, but having exacted from his court one heavey contribution, as the Price of Peace; and employd that very Money in establishing their late Military Despotism. they refuse to Sign the Treaty, which was a few days protracted, in order to obtain the consent of an Ally, against whom some articles

militated with their former engagements. having obtaind their consent, the Minister Presented the Treaty for signature, and was refused, unless a new Gift of a still more oppressive sum was given upon the refusal of his court to comply, the Minister, contrary to the Law of Nations is imprisoned, and Portugal threatned with an invasion—
        The dispatches from our Envoys which you have undoubtedly read; and which I now send you, will be prooff sufficient, to shew, what a pitch of venality Rapacity and avarice, the Present Rulers of France have arrived at. The confidence with which they boast of a powerfull Party in this Country devoted to their views, is daily experienced. their Emissaries are scatterd through all parts of this extensive union, sowing the seeds of vice, irreligion, corruption, and sedition. hence has grown up that spirit of Party, and of faction within those Walls, where wisdom and Patriotism alone should preside; where you behold Sophistory, Substituded instead of Argument, and Personal Reflection’s giving place to, National Dignity and Decorum. I wish however a veil to be thrown over the disgracefull buisness which occupied much too large a portion of the present Session; and that it may sink into oblivion with the party views which supported it—
        The Nation appears to be rousing from the Lethargy, which has too long benumbed its powers, and rising to a Sence of its own Dignity, and concequence, with a firm resolution to repell the insults offerd her, too long a habit of humiliation, does not seem a very good prepartive to manly and vigorous sentiments, but the Reluctance which every American feels to engage in Hostilities with any Nation, and the desire they have to sacrifice all consideration to the preservation of Peace, short of their Independance, and security, has restrained them from expressing the full extent of their Indignation against a Nation, which they considerd as oppressed, and in the early stages of its Revolution, sincerely wished it success in obtaining and securing to itself equal Liberty & social Rights—but when we see them ifrom, being oppressed, become themselves the greatest of all oppressors, and usurpers, we can no longer wish them success.
        If we become a united people, there is no doubt but we can withstand the storms which threatens us. united we stand—united we are formidable, and sufficent to ourselves, nor need we seek a Foreign Aid, or dread a Foreign Foe.
        As Calumny, and abuse upon the Fairest Characters and the best

Men in France, was one of the most powerfull engines, employed, to overturn one set of Rulers and in sitting up others who in their turn shared the same fate, so have their Emissaries adopted the Same weapons in this Country, and the Liberty of the press, is become licentious beyond any former period. the Good sense of the American people in general directs them Right, where they can see and judge for themselves, but in distant and remote parts of the union, this continued abuse, deception, and falshood is productive of great mischief, and tends to destroy that confidence & Harmony which is the Life Health & security of a Republick.
        I write to you my dear Madam with the Freedom and confidence of an old Friend, whom I am sure, will unite with me in sincere, and Ardent wishes, for the Peace security and prosperity of our common Country.
        The President desires me to Present to Gen’ll Warren the Remembrance of an old Friend who would be much more at his ease, & happier in cultivating the usefull science of Agriculture with him, than, in the Arduous, complicated, turbulant and difficult task assignd him— he will however do his utmost, that the fruits of the Husbandman, and the Commerce of the Merchant shall be protected and Secured, and that the Liberty and Independance which we obtaind and secured from the Grasp of one Foreign Nation shall not be unjustly wrested from us by any other Power. if we are but just to ourselves, and in these endavours he hopes for the aid and countanance of all his fellow citizens—
        when I return to Quincy, which I hope may be in the course of the summer, it will give me great pleasure to see and welcome you & Gen’ll Warren at Peace Feild—
        My compliments to your son and daughter and to miss Marcia—
        From Dear Madam Your Friend / and Humble servant

          Abigail Adams


Title: Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 26 April 1798
From: Adams, Abigail
To: Cranch, Mary Smith

          my dear sister
          April 26 1798

        I inclose to you a National song composed by this same mr Hopkinson. French Tunes have for a long time usurped an uncontrould sway. since the Change in the publick opinion respecting France, the people began to lose the relish for them, and What had been harmony, now becomes discord. accordingly their had been for several Evenings at the Theatre something like disorder, one party crying out for The Presidents march, and yankee Doodle, whilst Ci era, was vociferated from the other it was hisst off repeatedly. the managers were blamed. their excuse was that they had not any words to the Presidents march— Mr Hopkinson accordinly composed these to the tune. Last Eve’ng they were sung for the first time. I had a Great curiosity to see for myself the Effect. I got mr otis to take a Box, and silently went off with mr & mrs otis mr & mrs Breck to the play, where I had only once been this winter. I meant now to be perfectly in cogg, so did not sit in what is calld the Presidents Box—

after the Principle Peice was perford, mr Fox came upon the stage to sing the song he was welcomed by applause. the House was very full, and at every Choruss the most unbounded applause ensued. in short it was enough to stund one. they had the song repeated— after this Rossina was acted. when Fox came upon the state after the curtain dropt, to announce the Peice for fryday, they calld again for the song, and made him repeat it to the fourth time and the last time. the whole Gallery Audience broke forth in the Chorus whist the thunder from their Hands was incessant, and at the close they rose gave 3 Huzzas, that you might have heard a mile— My Head acks in concequence of it. the managers have requested the President to attend the Theater, and twesday next he goes. a number of the inhabitants have made the same request, and now is the proper time to gratify them. their have been six differents addresses presented from this city alone; all expressive of the Approbation of the measures of the Executive. yet dairingly do the vile incendaries keep up in Baches paper the most wicked and base, voilent & caluminiating abuse— it was formely considerd as leveld against the Government, but now it is contrarry to their declared sentiments daily manifested, so that it insults the Majesty of the sovereign People. but nothing will have an Effect untill congress pass a sedition Bill, which I presume they will do before they rise— not a paper from Bache press issues nor from Adams Chronical, but what might have been prossecuted as libels upon the President and Congress. for a long time they seem as if they were now desperate— the wrath of the public ought to fall upon their devoted Heads
        I shall send a paper or two because your Boston papers cannot take in one half of what these contain. mr otis’s Letter is a very judicious sensible patriotic composition, and does him great honour—
        You may rely upon it from me, that not a single line from our Envoys have been received but what has been communicated, and nothing has been received from them Since the last communication.
        I received your Letter of the 20 this day. I am very sorry the closet should be omitted because it wanted painting very much and does not easily dry. I wrote to the dr and proposed having the out side of the house new painted, and the Garden fence also which never was more than primed, but I would not put too many Irons at once in the fire
        if you have got cousin Betsys Box or she has, as I see the vessel is arrived, you will then find what a Drapery dress is, and the young Lady will teach how it is to be put on. a Cap for You should be made

as you usually wear yours, and as I wear mine, of handsome Muslin, with a pleated border or a lace— I wear no other but upon publick Evenings when I wear a Crape dress cap—
        I do not wear the drapery dress myself as I consider it too youthfull for me. I have both Sides alike, but they both come forward upon the top & then fall away and are worn with a coat or the Apron lose—
        will you desire mr Porter to get some slips of the Quince Tree and sit out in the lower garden
        adieu my dear sister. my pen I think is scarcly ever dry. yours in Love affection

          Abigail Adams

          P S Since writing the above the song is printed. Bache says this morning among other impudence that the excellent Lady of the Excellent President, was present, and shed Tears of sensibility upon the occasion. that was a lie, however I should not have been asshamed if it had been so. I laughd at one scene which was playd, be sure untill the tears ran down I believe but the song & the manner in which it is received, is death to their Party. the House was really crouded, and by the most respectable people in the city—


Title: Catherine Nuth Johnson to Louisa Catherine Adams, 26 April 1798
From: Johnson, Catherine Nuth
To: Adams, Louisa Catherine

            My Dear & Beloved Child
            George Town April 26th 98

          it was with the most heart felt anguish I heard from Mrs Adams of your late severe & dangerous illness. Oh my Louisa What does your Father & myself feel at not having A Line from you to Convince us of your Recovery, the Anxiety we labour under for your Preservation, the Solicitude we have ever Shewn the Principles we have endeavour’d to inculcute taught us to believe; that you wou’d have embraced every opportunity in your Power to Assure us of undiminished affection indeed in the Present instance the Condescention of A Line from Mr Adams might (Could he have been A Witness) have Repaid him the Sacrifice by the Gratitude of the Reception but alass human nature ever Ready to Contribute to its Own unhappiness fills us with the most alarming apprehensions for your Safety the Prayers we Continually Offer to the throne of Mercy will I trust be heard & the Reestablishment of your health and every other Comfort be Compleat—
          You will perhaps expect me to write you A great deal of News, indeed my Beloved Child I am in A Place where visiting only is the order of the day, Commerce is entirely at A stand Speculation in the Federal City has absorbed not only the money of individuals, but the Enterprize & Spirit also, your Father is much disappointed & knows not how to act— Philadelphia & Baltimore are at this moment very little better, every thing begins to wear the appearance of War and every one dreads the approach— the Opposition have Committed themselves in asking for the Communications to the Envoys at Paris— they immagin’d they were widening, the Pit for the President which has Swallow’d them all up, be it so, those who wish to Subvert, the Laws or the Constitution deserve no better fate—
          I have been extreemly ill since Christmas but am now much Recoverd I am not very Strong Change of Climate I expect will try me— your Sisters are all Pretty well at Present, Nancy is to be

married very Shortly to your Cousin Walter— I sincerely hope she will be happy, but their dispositions are not so Similar as I think Essential in the married State, however Reason will soon teach her accommodation to her husbands temper, is the best Criterion to Guide her and the only Basis on Which we women ought to Build Carolina has not yet got A Profest Lover, altho many admirers, Kitty grows A very fine Girl she is Wonderfully improv’d since her arrival, the little ones much the same Harriet is grown Considerable and as great A Hoyden as ever, I wou’d give you A description of some of the Ladies but you Know so few it will not be very entertaining Colonel Forrest & his Lady are Remarkable Friendly she is A most Charming woman as is her Sister Mrs Key altho not so animated yet Equally Facinating Mrs Mason is great favorite of mine which in A great degree originates from the Resemblance I think She bears to you Need I after that say, she is Pretty Elegant & that the Propriety of her Conduct Renders her truly amiable
          General Washington has been to Pay us A Visit, Personally he told me, to invite me, & your Sisters to Mount Vernon Miss Nelly Custis Came very Shortly after to Second the General invitation, which I shall most assuredly accept, she is A very Pretty woman but not so handsome I think as many others I have seen Mrs Law & Mrs Peter not Esteem’d so Pretty but very agreeable, Miss Carrol has been to see us She is very much improved you will Laugh when I tell you Mr Charles Wallace is to be married this Evening he is but 72 to day—
          the Death of your Cousin James Cook which happen’d very suddenly from the Breaking a Blood Vessel has Shaken your Father, a good deal, he had taken up a great Prejudice in his favor, of Which he was very deserving, he was A very Rising Character in the Law & had more Business than any 3 men in the County, your Father, had put all his hands for he is obliged to Sue every man to Realize one Shilling Such is the honor & honesty, of this part of the World, your father has in Consequence of the above event Perswaded Mr Cranch to take your Cousins office, & has put all his papers into his hands Which has induced many People to follow his Example and I sincerely hope it will be the means of enabling Mr C to provide for his familly who have been very much deranged by the failure, of Mr Greenleaf Poor Mr Morris is in gaol and I am afraid will ever Remain, Mrs Marshal Passed through Frederick Last Week while I was there I did not know any thing of it, till she was gone or

I Certainly Shou’d have waited on her and offer’d her any assistance in my Power, neither Allegations or appearances will ever prevent me from giving every Consolation; Misfortune Requires
          from Mrs Adams who is so kind as to give me every information Concerning you I learnt Mr Tom Adams had been very ill, I flatter myself he is now Perfectly Recover’d, if his happiness & Prosperity, in this Life, depended on the wishes of his Coopers Row friends, his Success wou’d be no Longer doubtful make my affectionate Love to him, Mr Adams Letter of the 11th October, Came safe to hand, but not till the begining of February, it was then to soon, the Letter that accompanied it & the motive, I think, to A generous Mind, Woud have Stampt its own infamy, you know your Fathers heart, & will not I trust be easily led, to believe that he is Villain, I will however drop the Subject, & leave it to time, the developer of all things to discover, but was Mr A here he woud be taught to know, that neither Exalted Worth or Exalted Station, are Sufficient to Protect any man from Slander & Calumniations I wrote you in January by the Peggy Mrs Adams will forward this with her own Letters, My best Respects to Mr Adams, and believe me my Dear Child your affectionate Mother

            C Johnson

          Let me know if Epps is with you


Title: Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 28 April 1798
From: Adams, Abigail
To: Cranch, Mary Smith

          my dear sister
          Philadelphia 28 April 1798

        I have just received yours of the 23 April and I sit down to answer your inquiries respecting the building I wrote to dr Tufts my Ideas upon it. I should think the East Chambers the best for a Library and I do not see any inconvenience from having the stairs to it without doors like going into a store as mr Tufts store is built. I pray neither the dr or mr Black when he comes will say any thing about the Building. I mean to have it all done Snug, and the Library removed if I can before I come, and I pray the dr to inform me of the cost which I design to Secure monthly from my expences here— I know the President will be glad when it is done, but he can never bear to trouble himself about any thing of the kind, and he has no taste for it, and he has too many publick cares to think of his own affairs
        you mention Betsys Shaws illness. I did not know She had been sick, except the beginning of the winter. I am allarmd for her
        The caps are at the bottom of the Box sent to cousin Betsy. I see by the papers that the vessel is arrived. if she is not at home you may open the Box I never received the Letter in which the Dr Mentions having inclosed the plan. tell the dr if four or 5 Hunderd dollors will meet the object, I will remit the remainder to him as he shall have occasion.—
        The Child is very well let mrs Black know—

        the weather yesterday was very Hot and is like to be so to day. I had a very full drawing Room last evening— I must close them in May. I cannot have them in Hot weather. I went yesterday to return Some visits, and where ever I past, I received a marked notice of Bows & the Friends in the street in their Way noticed me. I thought nothing of it, untill my attention was caught by a Bunch of Tradesmen they lookt like, who at the corners of the street saluted me as I past with their Hats— in short we are now wonderfully popular except with Bache & co who in his paper calls the President old querilous Bald blind cripled Toothless Adams thus in scripture was the Prophet mocked, and tho no Bears may devour the wretch, the wrath of an insulted people will by & by break upon him—
        I have not time to add more than my Love and Regards to all Friends / from your / affectionate sister

          A Adams


Title: Cotton Tufts to John Adams, 2 May 1798
From: Tufts, Cotton
To: Adams, John

              Dear Sr.
              Weymouth May. the 2d. 1798

            Your Favour of the 22d. Ulto. I received the 1t. Inst. After a long & severe Winter, a cold & stormy March, and April much the same, a few Days excepted. We have at length fine Weather, and an Opportunity of getting our Seed in the Ground. The Weather has been exceeding hot and dry for Four Days Viz from the 28th. of April to the 2d. Inst. April 28. Thermomtr. 68. 29th. Th. 70. 30th. Th. 75— May. 1. Th. 77. (that is, in the highest Heat of the several Days)— Vegetation is as rapid as I ever remember— Yesterday I got over to Quincy and find your Grass Lands have a very promising Appearance, But few Canker Worms have made their Appearance this Year, In the Season of their Ascent I gave Directions for tarring the Apple Trees. Mr. Bass tells me there are only a few Millers to be seen— There are but few Caterpillars to be seen on any of the Trees, if the Rose Bugs should not molest the Trees this year, We shall have a plenty of Fruit in the Fall— A Number of Pieces of Land on your Farms will require the Steel Scythe— Will it not be best to employ Trask, tho old, he seems to understand the Business.— Last Week I was confind to my House with my old pulmonic Affections, which e’er long will demolish my Frame— This day Our good Old Friend Major Humphrey departed this Life in the 87th. Year of his Age and is gone to a better World— Miss S. Warner on the 27th. Ulto. sunk down to

rest. Through the whole of her Sickness She exhibited an uncommon Patience and steady Submission to the Will of Heaven and has left us the consoling Hopes of her enjoying a blessed Immortality.
            My Health does not permit me to write much, but I cannot break off without saying a Word or two upon Politics. The Conduct of a Number of Towns near Boston has been truly mortifying. To the Arostratic Pride & disappointed Ambition of the Descendants of the great Philosopher of Cambridge (who in his Day had acquired the Reputation of a Politician) whose family possess his Temper but not his Virtues—may be ascribed the Doings of Cambridge— The restless & disappointed Ambition of the Hero of Roxbury may in some Measure account for theirs and French Agency for Dorchester the malicious, persevering, and revengeful Spirit of a disappointed Colonel joind to the Duplicity of a certain Lawyer now in public Life—for Milton—and Conduct of some other Towns may be imputed to the Chronicle—

              May. the 7th.

            The Presidents Commission & Instructions were liberal more so, I think, than I should have given, were I to have been in his Place, yet taking all Things into Consideration, they were wise and prudent and as the Representative of the whole Nation, he has expressed its Sense fully, and I am sure will meet with the approbation and Gratitude of every true American.—
            The Dispatches from the Envoy’s cannot be read without producing deep Resentment and an Abhorrence of the Meanness and Baseness of the component Powers of the French Nation and of their insatiable Lust of Domination & Rapine and a full Conviction, that they are mad with Infidelity, mad with Conquest & mad with Pride & Avarice— What Hope can there be of treating with them, upon any other Terms than a Surrender of our Property and our Independance, and are We not in fact reduced to this Dilemma, either to submit or to defend?
            The Communication of these State Papers (the Necessity of the Measure I regret much) have opened the Eyes of Many that were blind and have turnd them from the Error of their Ways a very different View of Things is rapidly taking Place and if reduced to extremities I doubt not of a general Union—
            I wish Congress would adopt some Measures for preventing the sowing of Sedition, securing of Foreigners whose Nation may

unjustly imprison or abuse our Citizens and provide for any Exigences that may possibly occur before the next Meeting of Congress—
            The Weather still continues pleasant, Vegetation proceeds with surprizing Rapidity— Mine & Mrs. Tufts best Regards to Mrs. Adams— Accept of my best Wishes for Your Health & Happiness and that your public Labors may be crownd with the utmost Success
            Your Affecte Friend & H Servt

              Cotton Tufts


Title: Abigail Adams to Catherine Nuth Johnson, 4 May 1798
From: Adams, Abigail
To: Johnson, Catherine Nuth

            my dear Madam
            Philadelphia May 4th 1798

          I received two kind Letters from you since I had the pleasure of writing to you. I regreet that both you, and your Family have experienced so much ill Health Since you arrived in this Country. I feel for you as a stranger; and wish you were near enough to me, that I might have it in my power, to return to you, and your Family, Some portion of the kindness and Hospitality which I experienced myself, and which others of my Family received, long before we had an Idea of a closer connection subsisting between us.

          My Heart was filled with tenderness and anxiety, for our Dear Daughter at the recital of Her danger, and the situation she found herself in, with the circumstances attendant upon it, as described by my son’s. I inclose to you their Letters. the President has one to the 30 Jan’ry in which Mr Adams writes that they were then all well. I will thank you to return them to me as soon as you have read them—but my dear Madam you must not think it oweing to want of duty or affection that you have not received Letters. at the period when these Letters were dated, Your arrival in America was unknown to them
          I wrote in Nov’br & in December, as you will See by Mr Adams’s acknowledgment, but you were not then arrived. I embrased the first opportunity of communicating to them the pleasing intelligence as soon as it reachd me, but have no Letters that inform me those have been received, and I never write my son, without letting him know your welfare as I have had the pleasure of hearing frequently from you. I wrote to Mrs Adams twice this winter. I have inclosed the Letters you sent for her in one to my Son, and Mr Liston has been kind enough to take Charge of it for me. the other Letters have been put into the Bag, as you desired it will give me pleasure at any time to forward Letters for you.
          Your intelligence respecting mr Cranch gives me pleasure. I do not hesitate to say, that I believe mr Johnson will find him every way worthy his confidence. I rejoice to find an other Friend raised up to him, to compensate the one whom he lost in mr Deakings and of whom he spoke to me with a filial affection— Mrs Cranch is an amiable domestick woman, seperated too, from all her connections, and renderd very unhappy by the misfortunes which have befallen some of them. I have felt much for her. she is one of a very large and amiable Family I wish her to cultivate an acquaintance with your Family. With mr Daltons Family I have been for Years acquainted, and in habits of intimacy. with Mrs Law, I never was acquainted untill I had the pleasure of seeing her here this winter. I was then much pleased with her. she appears to me, an agreable Benevolent unassuming woman— I hope my dear Madam the Country will become more agreable to you as you become more acquainted with its inhabitants. it requires time to assimilate ourselves to any place, and I can make many allowances for a person educated in England, not finding the customs manners and habits in America agreable at first. the domestick arrangement of our Families is very different, and we

have much of the spirit of Equality. you will find more of that the further you come Northward.
          You ask My opinion respecting the Removal of the Seat of Government. I do belive that it is the design of Congress to remove at the period stated, provided the accommodations at the Time are such as to warrant it—. For myself it is matter of very great uncertainty whether I shall ever reside there. the Period for which the President is Elected will expire near the Time of Removal, and God only knows what will take place in our Country. we are in a very critical Situation tho I think as the danger approaches, we become more united, and firm more determined to resist our Enemy. War is a dreadfull scourge to any Country, most devoutly to be deprecated, but subjugation is worse, and more particularly so to France, Who in her Revolution has broken down all the Barriers which united other powers, and with a besom of destruction, appears to be let loose as a scourge to the whole civilized world. that she early formed a party in this Country, we have painfull evidence of. they have obstructed the measures of our Goverment. they have intruded themselves into the counsels of our Country. they have sowed the seeds of discord amongst us, vilified and abused our best and Fairest Characters, and endeavourd to subvert our Religion— in short there is not any evil which they have not devised against us, and as far as they have been able executed against us. but America is now roused. she sees the Hand raised to shed her Blood, and I trust she will not shrink from the contest if compelld to it for the preservation of her Liberty and Independance
          Some dispatches have been received from our Envoys in France up to the 6th of Feb’ry they will be made publick, but they do not give us any prospect of an accomodation with them. If they are Serious in their intended invasion of England, I think they must not delay the attempt much longer. I am sanguine that they will not succeed. I pray Heaven they may not. I consider England the only Barrier remaining, against universal domination— I shall tire you I fear with politicks.
          As the young Ladies are musisians I inclose the New song now in much repute. the portrait I do not think a likeness—
          Present me affectionatly to Mr Johnson to the young Ladies and to your son. My Nephew, his Classmate inquires affectionatly after him— I now fear I shall not have the pleasure of seeing you before I go Northward, which I hope to do, as soon as congress rise if you find

your Health suffering, come to Boston and you will find a journey to the Northward very agreable in the month of June— You must not however look for English turnpike Roads or Inns but you will find much of true English Hospitality, in N England we have few Foreigners, and most of our inhabitants are descended from English Ancestors.—
          adieu My dear Madam / and believe me at all times / Your obliged and affectionate / Friend

            Abigail Adams