Title: Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 19 August – 1 September 1787
From: Cranch, Mary Smith
To: Adams, Abigail

          Braintree August 19th 1787
          My Dear Sister

        The vacancys of our Sons always produces a hurry in our business & although we endeavour to keep every thing in good order for them from week to week—yet when they come home they have many wants which we could not foresee— we have sent your two youngest Sons in good health & good repair to college & are now fixing your eldest for Newbury & our own for Boston Cousin Tom has made a visit to Haverhill sir Charles touch’d there— A pair of beautiful Eyes & heavenly eye-Brows were too attracting to permit him to fix till he had reach’d newburry port— Why charles who is this divine creature who has made you look so languid—“oh aunt[”]—“oh Cousin[”]—“It is a Neice of mrs Williams mama She is a pretty Girl She was there when I was this spring—” “well cousin Betsy did you ever see such heavenly Eye-brows—& she is as amiable as she is pretty” “but my dear have you left her any hair upon her head if all the rings you have are made of her hair you must have thin’d it a little at least” “but I observe a great variety of shades & colours in your Rings— I fancy you are a general admirer of the sex if so—your heart is in no danger at present” I am always a little affraid my dear Nephew when I find a schoolars Pockits so full of hair Rings that his head will not be as well Stor’d with Greek & Latten— “He will get it over soon said JQA— I was so two years but I would study out of spight—” I am mistaken my cousin if you are not a little poorly now although you will not own it— Lovely Nancy is oftener play’d upon the Flute than any other tune— as to honest Tom he does not think that the Ladys need so much attention—”is sure that they have Legs as well as he & may walk without leaning upon his arm” If my own soon has had any twitches he takes care not to discover it— His attentions appear to be the result of Benevolence & politness only & such I hope they will continue untill he has acquir’d something to support a Family—
        Mr Wainwright a native of Liverpool who came here with capt Beals Family & who about a week since sail’d for England—desir’d to take a Letter for you he will spend the winter in London— I design’d to have given him one but I had not time to write. he will see you I suppose. if he should—I wish you would tell him why I did not. he was so kind as to offer to take Letters or any thing I had to send could I send you some corn & Beans I know I should give a Feast if you retain the same relish for them that you use’d to have— I wish I could send you any thing that would refresh you as much as the Porter you sent us has mr cranch this summer— He has apply’d himself to the cultivation of his little Farm & has work’d so hard himself that if he had not drank Porter & water freely I know not whither he would have had an ounce of flesh left— He can have work enough at the Treasurers office—but can get nothing but paultry orders for pay—which will not sell for more than eleven shillings upon the pound what is allow’d a day will not pay—at this rate— the man we hire to work upon the Farm I believe I told you that mr Belcher works for us this Summer—& an excellent hand he is I have Molly Burrel for a Dairy Maid sister Smith brought her up— she makes fine cheese & is a very neat good Girl— I have had very good health this season & have many very many blessings to be thankful for—
        Betsy Smith is gone home Polly is now with me. She is a fine sensible sprightly child has quite done freting & is by much the smartest of sisters Daughters— Louisia is to make me a visit next— Sister Smith is in poor health a pain in her side & a difficulty of breathing are her complaints I feel concern’d about her—she is too anxious about her children.
        I know not what will become of uncle Quincy or his Estait. That vixen which he keeps for a house keeper does what she pleases—& to help his repose & to amuse him in his retirement from the world. Miss Sally Tailer is come to spend the Summer with him—& really if he had not the other she would be no bad companion if she would not talk quite so much. It is not in our power to get uncle from home & miss Tailor says he is very dull—sometimes— How much happier would he be if he had such a sprightly wife as our good Grandmother was a man wants a wife for a companion more I think when he is far advanc’d in Life than when he is young nobody feels clever to look about them & not see a creature who cares whether they live or dye—
        General Palmers salt works upon Boston neck are almost ready to work. I hear they are to live in one of the Houses upon the neck cousin Polly yet lives but is very low I really thought about a month since that she could not have surviv’d till this time— Cousin Betsy is to be married to cousin Jo Cranch as soon as he gets establish’d in business— Their education has been very different the superiority is on the wrong side— Her Papa has been bitterly against it his Pride is sadly hurt. you know his temper & can guess what she may have suffer’d— If he submits it will be because he knows she is determined— He is a good temper’d young Fellow I wish he had a better faculty to push himself into business— General Knox has a good opinion of his honesty & his abbilities as a good Gun Smith & will do every thing in his power to assist him— I wish them both well
        August 27th
        I am just come from visiting our good uncle Smith. He is dangerously sick. He has had a swelling in one of his Legs for above two months, which has increas’d to such a degree that it has reach’d his body, His Leg & thigh are as hard as a stick & inflam’d to a purple colour, you know he never could bear confinment without being dull, His spirits are sunk to nothing. He has had a bad cough all summer. & Doctor Tufts has said that unless he would lay by & attend to his health—he would not live long. but he would not be perswaided while he could stand upon his Leg, he has lost his Flesh & his appetite & has some disorders besides which waste him fast. He lays upon the bed & groans & looks so much like our dear Father that I could not take my eyes from him; I sat by—& fan’d him the whole of last satturday afternoon. but it was a scene almost too much for me. His voice was so much like Fathers that it would sometimes make me Start— you know what a Family of Love they are & will not wonder that they are greatly distress’d Cousin Isaac & Betsy look as if their hearts would break, The Loss should it be the will of Heaven to take him from us, will be very great indeed to us all—not only to his Friends but to the community.—
        I carried my son to Boston & left him with mr Dawes, I have left him an innocent youth with a strong sense of Religion & Honour upon his mind— I hope he will never be drawn aside from the path of virtue. His cousin JQA & he will find it hard to part. they Love as Brothers & as Friends as well as classmates
        September 1d
        I went again yesterday to see uncle Smith & found him much better—tho far from being out of danger— your son JQA went with me & is on his way to newburry— He was more affected at leaving us than I could have imagin’d he would have been— Although he has been toss’d about the world in such a manner—he had dissagreable feelings at the thought of going to a place where he knew no one. & where he care’d for nobody, & nobody care’d for him. as he express’d himself to me as we were riding, dear youth he found it necessary to draw the back of his Hand across his Eyes when he said it—& from sympathy or a tenderer Cause your sister did the same I told him he forgot that he would be within 14. miles of his aunt Shaw, who love’d him like a Parent—& to whom—he must go, if he was unwell at any time. He promiss’d to write to us & to visit us in the winter. We have fix’d him of so well that I think he cannot want much done for him till then—
        your Neices have made the chintz you sent them & of all pritty things it is the [mos]t beautiful for Gowns I cannot sufficiently thank you [my] dear sister for your kindness to them
        your present came in season [for] mrs Allen. She has a fine Daughter— Hannah Austin is [yet] living but is in the last stage of a consumption. mrs Cutts has another son— mr cranch desires his Love to you all—will write as soon as he can but my sister when am I to see you. I hope I am not to be disappointed another year— I want to see my new relations & my dear Neice, & to see what a good Mamma she makes
        I shall have this Letter put into the bag tomorrow least callahan should slip away without a Line, I shall write again before the vessel sails. if she does not go sooner than is talk’d off
        I made your mother Hall a visit last week & found her very well— yours affectionatly
        M Cranch
        The Girls beg you to send them some good Needles they cannot find any here


Title: John Adams to Cotton Tufts, 27 August 1787
From: Adams, John
To: Tufts, Cotton

          Grosvenor Square Aug. 27. 1787
          Dear Sir

        You mention to Mrs Adams a Piece of Land adjoining to me, of 56 Acres at 25s an Acre: but are at a Loss, whether it will be for my Interest to purchase it, as you are not informed of my Views, &c.— My View is to lay fast hold of the Town of Braintree and embrace it, with both my Arms and all my might. there to live—there to die—there to lay my Bones—and there to plant one of my Sons, in the Profession of the Law & the Practice of Agriculture, like his Father.— To this End I wish to purchase as much Land there, as my Utmost forces will allow, that I may have Farm enough to amuse me and employ me, as long as I live. that I may not rust, alive.— You will therefore oblige me very much if you will purchase that Piece of Land and every other, that adjoins upon me, which is offered to Sale, at what you shall judge an Advantagious Price, especially Salt Marsh & Wood land. I know very well, that I could employ my little Modicum of Means more profitably—But in no Way so much to my Taste and humour—or so much for my Health and Happiness. To the Publik I have been long enough a Slave, and to little enough Profit. in other Words I have made more than my share of Sacrifices. Had I followed my own Business with as much Attention and Industry as I have those of the Publick, I could have owned, the whole Town of Braintree at this hour, or the Value of it, for what I know, without running one risque. Now I must be content to be poor, and my Children too, unless they Should have more Wisdom than I have had. If I Serve the Publick, in future, it must be in Retirement and in my own Way, with the feeble share of Forces that remain to me, and the short Period of time: for you will remember I am not a Child nor a Youth, nor a middle Aged Man, nor has my Carcass or my Spirit, been Spared, for old Age.
        My dear Love to all our good Friends, and believe me ever yours.
        John Adams.


Title: Thomas Jefferson to Abigail Adams, 30 August 1787
From: Jefferson, Thomas
To: Adams, Abigail

          Paris Aug. 30. 1787.
          Dear Madam

        I have omitted writing sooner to you in expectation that Colõ Smith would have taken this in his route: but receiving now information from him that he embarks from Lisbon, I avail myself of the opportunity by mr̃ Payne of thanking you for the disbursements you were so kind as to make for my daughter in London, and of stating to you our accounts as follows.

            £ s d

            Disbursements of mrs Adams as summed up in her state of them
            10–15–8

            Error in addition to her prejudice
              1–0–6

            11–16–2

            Cash paid by Petit to mrs Adams, viz. 6. Louis d’ors @ 19/6
            5–17–

            paid by do. for black lace 75₶. which at the same exchange is
            3–1–

            do. for 2. doz. pr̃ gloves 37₶–12s. . . .
            1–10–6

            balance due to mrs Adams . . . .
              1–7–8

            11–16–2

        which balance I will beg the favor of Colo. Smith to pay you and to debit me with.
        I am afraid, by the American papers, that the disturbances in Massachusets are not yet at an end. mr̃ Rucker who is arrived here, gives me a terrible account of the luxury of our ladies in the article of dress. he sais that they begin to be sensible of the excess of it themselves, and to think a reformation necessary. that proposed is the adoption of a national dress. I fear however they have not resolution enough for this. I rejoice in the character of the lady who accompanies the Count de Moustier to America, and who is calculated to reform these excesses as far as her example can have weight. simple beyond example in her dress, tho neat, hating parade & etiquette, affable, engaging, placid, & withal beautiful, I cannot help hoping a good effect from her example. she is the Marquise de Brehan, sister in law to the Count de Moustier, who goes partly on account of a feeble health, but principally for the education of her son (of 17. years of age) which she hopes to find more masculine there & less exposed to seduction. the Count de Moustier is of a character well assorted to this. nothing niggardly, yet orderly in his affairs, genteel but plain, loving society upon an easy not a splendid tone, unreserved, honest, & speaking our language like a native. he goes with excellent notions & dispositions, and is as likely to give satisfaction as any man that could have been chosen in France. he is much a whig in the politics of his own country. I understand there is a possibility that Congress will remove to Philadelphia.— my daughter talks of you often & much, still fancies she is to pay you the visit she promised. in the mean time she is very contented in the Convent with her sister. both join me in compliments to mrs̃ Smith and in assurances to yourself of the attachment & respect which I have the honour to proffer for them as well as for, dear Madam, your most obedient & most humble servant
        Th: Jefferson


Title: Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 15 September 1787
From: Adams, Abigail
To: Cranch, Mary Smith

          Sepbr 15th [1787] Grosvenour Square
          my dear sister

        When I wrote you last, I was just going to Set out on a journey to the West of England. I promised you to visit mr Cranchs Friends and Relatives, this we did as I shall relate to you we were absent a month, and made a Tour of about six hundred Miles. the first place we made any stay at, was Winchester. There was formerly an Earl of Winchester, by the Name of Saar de Quincy. he was created Earl of Winchester by King john in 12.24. and Signed Magna Charta, which I have seen, the original being now in the British Museum with his Hand writing to it.
         it is said that the year 1321 the Title became extinct, through failure of male Heirs, but I rather think through the poverty of some branch unable to contend for it. the family originally came from Normandy in the Time of William the Conquerer. they bear the same Arms with those of our Ancesters except that ours Substituded an animal for the crest in lieu, of an Earls coronet. I have a perfect remembrance of a parchment in our Grandmothers possession, which when quite a child I used to amuse myself with. this was a Geneological Table which gave the descent of the family from the Time of William the conquerer this parchment mr Edmund Quincy borrowed on some occasion, & I have often heard our Grandmother Say with some anger, that she could never recover it. as the old Gentleman is still living, I wish mr Cranch would question him about it, & know what Hands it went into, & whether there is a probability of its ever being recoverd, and be so good as to ask uncle Quincy how our Grandfather came by it, & from whence our Great Granfather came? where he first Settled? & take down in writing all you can learn from him, & mr Edmund Quincy respecting the family. you will Smile at my Zeal, perhaps on this occasion, but can it be wonderd at, that I should wish to Trace an Ancesstor amongst the Signers of Magna Carta, amongst those who voted against receiving an explanatory Charter in the Massachusetts, Stands the Name of our venerable Grandfather, accompanied only with one other. this the journals of the House will shew to his immortal honour. I do not expect either titles or estate from the Recovery of the Geneoligical Table, were there any probability of obtaining it, yet if I was in possession of it, money should not purchase it from me.  But to return to winchester, it is a very ancient place, and was formerly the residence of the Saxon and Norman Kings. there still remains a very famous Cathedral church, in the true Gothic Architecture, being partly built in the year 1079. I attended divine service there, but was much more entertaind with the Venerable and Majestic appearence of the Ancient pile, than with the Modern flimsy discourse of the preacher, a meaner performance I do not recollect to have heard, but in a Church which would hold several thousands it might truly be said, two or three, were met together, and those appeard to be the lower order of the people. from Winchester we proceeded to Southhampton, which is a very pretty sea port Town and much frequented during the summer months as a Bathing place, and here for the first time in my Life I tried the experiment. it would be delightfull in our warm weather as well as very salubrious if such conveniencys were Erected in Boston, Braintree, Weymouth, which they might be with little expence. the places are under cover, you have a woman for a Guide, a small dressing room to yourself an oil cloth cap, a flannel Gown and socks for the feet; we tarried only two days at Southhampton, and went ten miles out of our way in order to visit Weymouth merely for its Name. this like my Native Town is a Hilly country a small sea port, with very little buisness, & wholy supported by the resort of company during the Summer Months, for those persons who have not Country Houses of their own, resort to the Watering places as they are call’d, during the summer months, it being too vulgar and unfashionable to remain in London, but where the object of one is Health, that of 50 is pleasure, however far they fall short of the object. this whole Town is the property of a widow Lady. Houses are built by the Tenants & taken at Life Rents, which upon the discease of the Leasors revert back again to the owner of the Soil; thus is the landed property of this Country vested in Lordships, and in the Hands of the Rich altogether. the pesantry are but slaves to the Lord, notwithstanding the mighty boast they make of Liberty, 6 pence & 7 pence pr day is the usual wages given to Labourers, who are to feed themselves out of the pittance. in travelling through a Country fertile as the Garden of Eden, loaded with a Golden harvest, plenty Smiling on every side, one would imagine the voice of poverty was rarely heard, and that she was seldom seen, but in the abodes of indolence and vice, but it is far otheways. the Money earned by the sweat of the Brow must go to feed the pamperd Lord & fatten the Greedy Bishop, whilst the misierble shatterd thatched roof cottage crumbles to the dust for the want of repair. to hundreds & hundreds of these abodes have I been a witness in my late journey. the cheering Rays of the Sun are totally excluded, unless they find admittance through the decayed roof equally exposed to cold & the inclemnant season, a few Rags for a Bed, a joint Stool, comprise the chief of their furniture, whilst their own appearence is more wretched, than one can well conceive. during the season of Hay and Harvest, Men women & children are to be seen labouring in the Fields, but as this is a very small part of the year, the little they acquire then is soon expended, and how they keep soul and Body together the remainder of the year; is very hard to tell. it must be oweing to this very unequal distribution of property that the poor rate, is become such an intollerable burden. the inhabitants are very thinly scatterd through the Country, though large Towns are well peopled. to reside in & near London, and to judge of the Country from what one sees here, would be forming a very eronious opinion. How little cause of complaint have the inhabitants of the united States, when they compare their Situation, not with despotic monarchies, but with this Land of Freedom? the ease with which honest industry may acquire property in America the equal distribution of justice, to the poor as well as the rich, and the personal Liberty they enjoy, all all call upon them to support their Governments and Laws, to respect their Rulers, and gratefully acknowledge their Superiour Blessings, least Heaven in wrath Should Send them a. . . .
        From Weymouth our next excursion was to Axmister the first Town in the County of Devonshire. it is a small place, but has two manufactures of Note, one of Carpets & one of Tapes—both of  which we visited; the manufactory of the carpets is wholy performed by women and children. you would have been suprized to see, in how ordinary a Building this rich manufactory was carried on, a few glass windows in some of our Barns would be equal to it. they have but two prices for their carpets wove here, the one is Eighteen shilling, and the other 24, a square yard. they are wove of any dimensions you please, and without a seam, the coulours are most beautifull, and the carpets very durable here we found mr J Cranch, he dined with us, and we drank Tea with him; this is a curious Genious, he is a middle sizd man of a delicate countanance, but quite awkerd in his manners. he seldom looks one in the Face, and seems as if he had been crampd and cow’d in his youth; in company one is pained for him, yet is he a man of Reading and an accurate taste in the fine Arts, poetry, painting, musick, sculpture, Architecture; all of them have engaged his attention. his profession does not seem to be the object of his affections, and he has given up the practise, with an intention of persueing some other employment; he appears to me to be a man whose soul wants a wider expansion than his situation & circumstances allow. dejected spirits he is very liable to, I do not think him a happy man, his sentiments are by no means narrow or contracted; yet he is one by himself— he accompanied us in our journey to Exeter Plimouth and Kings-Bridge. at Exeter we tarried from Saturday till monday afternoon mr Bowering came to visit us. you know him by character, he appears a Friendly honest worthy man, active in buisness a warm and Zealous Friend to America, ready to serve his Friends, and never happier than when they will give him an opportunity of doing it his wife and daughter were on a visit to their Friends at Kings Bridge, so that we did not see them. he requested however that we would drink tea with him after meeting, and as our intention was to see mr Cranchs Brother Andrew, he engaged to get him to his House. the old Gentleman came, with some difficulty, for he is very lame and infirm; he seemd glad to see us, and asked many questions, respecting his Brother & sister in America. I think he must have had a paralityc stroke as his Speach is thick. he has not been able to do any buisness for a Number of years, and I believe is chiefly supported by his son, who is in the Clothiers buisness with mr Bowering. Mrs Cranch, tho near as old as her Husband, is a little smart, sprightly active woman, and is wilted just enough to last to perpetuity. She told me that her Husband took it very hard that his Brother had not written to him for a long time. I promised her that he should hear from him before long; and I know he will not let me be surety for him; without fulfilling my engagement. mr Cranchs daughter married mr Bowerings Brother, they have three sons. she is a sprightly woman like her Mother, and mr Bowerings daughter married a son of mr Natll Cranchs, so that the family is doubly linked together, and what is more; they all seem united, by the strongest ties of family harmony and Love. from Exeter we went to plimouth there we tarried Several days, and visited the fortifications, plimouth dock, & crossd over the water to mount Edgcume; a seat belonging to Lord Edgcume.
        the Natural advantages of this place are superiour to any I have before seen, commanding a wide and extensive view of the ocean, the whole Town of plimouth, and the adjacent Country with the Mountain of cornwall— I have not much to Say with respect to the improvements of art, there is a large park well stockd with Deer, and some shady walks, but there are no Grottos Statuary Sculpture or Temples.—
        at Plimouth we were visited by a mr & mrs Sawry; with whom we drank Tea one afternoon; mr Sawry is well known to many Americans, who were prisoners in plimouth jail during the late war. the money which was raised for their relief, past through his Hands and he was very kind to them, assisting many in their escape.— from plimouth we made an enterprize one day to Horsham and as we attempted it in a coach & four, we made a curious peice of work, taking by mistake a wrong road, but this part of my story I must reserve for my dear eliza.
        our next Movement was a Kings Bridge, but before I relate this, I ought to inform you, that we made a stop at a place call Ivey Bridge where we dined, and mr Adams accompanied mr Cranch to Brook about 3 miles distant, to visit his uncle mr William Cranch, who has been for several years quite lost to himself and Friends. there is some little property in the hands of the family who take charge of him, sufficient to Support a person who has no more wants than he has. he appeard clean & comfortable, but took no notice either of the conversation, or persons. the only thing which in the least roused him, was the mention of his wife, he appeard to be wrestless when that Subject was touchd. The Character of this Man, as given by all his Friends and acquaintance, leads one to regreet in a particular manner the loss of his intellects, possesst of a Genious superiour to his station, a thirst for knowledge which his circumstances in Life permitted him not to persue, most amiable and engageing in his manners, formed to have adornd a superiour Rank in Life, fondly attachd to an amiable wife, whom he very soon lost, he fell a sacrifice to a too great Sensibility, unable to support the shock, he grew melancholy and was totally lost.— But to return to Kings Bridge, the Chief resort of the Cranch family. we arrived at the Inn, about Six oclock a saturday Evening, about 8 we were saluted with a ringing of Bells—a circumstance we little expected. very soon we were visited by the various Branches of the Cranch family both male & female amounting to 15 persons, but as they made a strange jumble in my Head, I persuaded my fellow Traveller to make me out a Genealogical Table, which I send you. mr & mrs Burnell mr & mrs Trathan, both offerd us beds and accommodations at their houses, but we were too numerous to accept their Kind invitation, tho we engaged ourselves to dine with mr Burnell, & to drink Tea with mr Trathan the next day. Mrs Burnell has a strong resemblance to mrs palmer she is a Geenteel woman, and easy & polite. we dinned at a very pretty dinner, and after meeting drank Tea at the other House mr Trathans. their Houses are very small, but every thing neat and comfortable, mr Burnel is a shoe maker worth 5000 pounds and mr Trathan a Grocier in good circumstances. the rest of the families joind us at the two houses. they are all serious industerius good people amongst whom the greatest family harmony appears to Subsist. the people of this County appear more like our Newengland people than any I have met with in this Country before, but the distinction between Tradesmen & Gentry as they are termd is widely different from those distinctions in our Country. with us in point of Education and manners the Learned professions and many merchants Farmers & Tradesmen, are upon an equality with the Gentry of this Country. it would be degrading to compare them with many of the Nobility here. as to the Ladies of this Country their manners appear to be totally depraved, it is in the middle ranks of society, that virtue & morality are yet to be found. nothing does more injury to the Female Character, than frequenting publick places, and the rage which prevails now for the Watering places and the increased Number of them, is become a National evil as it promotes and encourages dissapation, mixes all characters promiscuously, is the resort of the most unprincipald female characters who are not ashamed to shew their faces wherever men dare to go modesty and diffidence, are calld ill Breeding, and Ignorance of the world. an impudent stare, is substituted in lieu of that modest deportment and that retireing Grace which aws, whilst it enchants. I have never seen a female Modle here, of such unaffected modest, & sweetly amiable manners, as mrs Guile mrs Russel, & many other American females exhibit.—
        Having filld 8 pages I think it is near time to hasten to a close. Cushing and Folger are both arrived, by each I have received Letters from you. a new sheet of paper must contain a replie to them, this little Space Shall assure you of what is not confined to Time or place / the ardent affection of your / sister
        A Adams.


Title: Cotton Tufts to Abigail Adams, 20–24 September 1787
From: Tufts, Cotton
To: Adams, Abigail

          Weymouth Sept. 20. 1787
          Dear Cousin

        Yours & Mr. Adams of the 1t. & Yours of the 4th. of July I recd. the 6th. Inst. the former by a British Vessell the latter by the Way of New York— being then in Boston, I immediately applied to our Friend Dr. Wilch to prepare the Way for the Purchase of Borlands Farm thinking it best to conceal your Name, till we were sure of accomplishing the Business— The Dr. applied and found that Mr B. was then repairing the House, that his Mother was to remove into it shortly and that Mr. B. had given up the Thoughts of selling it, but upon the whole Mr B. said that he would sell it for £800 the Dr. offered him £550 & left him Mr. B. having so far receeded as to say that 700 was his Ultimatum— After some Days the Dr. saw him again, found him disposed to converse on the Subject & finally offered him £600 including the Repairs, which after a few Days Consideration he agreed to and as soon as I have raised the Money by Bills shall close the whole and make such Repairs as are of Necessity for securing the Buildig, I shall send you the Dimensions of the Floors—all paper Hangings are prohibited from Importation If I remember right—and the best & neatest are made here at a very reasonable Price— I wish for your particular Direction with respect to Paintings and the Color if you have any particular Choice The Repairs must be very considerable— Mr. B——d compleated all matters with Mr. T——r. and is in full Possession of all the Lands, except those sold to Deac W[eb]b & Bass which Mr B. has given them a Deed of— Mr. T. is said to have expended £100 lawful money on the Buildg. &c and in the Purchase of Materials, such as were not used on the Buildings were swept off by his Creditors—the Wind Mill gone also to them— I have repaired Belchers House at as little Expense as I could possibly and have made it, tenantable—have also made a New Fence between that Place & the Widw Veseys adjoining— There is wanting a great Quantity of manure for your Lands, I have made repeated Enquiries but cannot as yet obtain any—it is every where engaged— The Spirit of Husbandry rises fast— People are dayly improving the Mode of managing their Farms—the great Price which English Hay bore for many Years—has produced such an Increase as to reduce the Price as low or lower than it was before the Revolution— Salt Hay is less in Use & consequently Salt marsh less valuable— Grain is more cultivated than formerly— My Friend on revisiting his Farm will not find it in such a State as to meet his Wishes— Our Scituation has neither encouraged nor permitted any further Exertions than what present Necessity required—and I am pretty sure that the Picture of Barreness & Poverty exhibited I wish it may not be known to any Body, that I ever had Instructions for buying that Place—unless hereafter it should be purchased— in Veseys Place will extinguish any Inclination for the Possession of it— And as Mr. A—— has not seen it for many Years—I know He will forgive me if I postpone the Purchase, till He can personally judge of the Quality of it &c
        You have before this Time recd. Letters by Capt Cushing & others—from your Friends. My Letters have informed You of the Terms agreed upon with Mr. Parsons for the Instruction of Yr Son—also of the Part assignd Him at Commencment—the applause he obtained and of his Design to enter on his Studies in Septr. — Last Week He went to Newbury for that purpose— By a Calculation we made His annual Expence including his Instruction will amount to £90 Pr. Annm. He boards @ 15/ per Week which was the lowest Price we could obtain— The Expence for the Children for the last Year youll be able to form some Judgment of by my Account enclosed, tho not so fully as if it had been more particular but much writing I am both for want of Time & weakness of Eye Sight obliged to avoid— Mr John did not call upon me for Pocket Money while at College— He is prudent and knows how to use Money— In my Account you will form some Judgment of what has been delivered to Charles & Thos. If it exceeds your Expectations I wish for your Remarks— their Quarter Bills are delivered in to me and are in general personally discharged by me— Necessaries (if they are to be called such) Tea, Sugar & Liquors have been generally procured for them, that Buttery Scores might be prevented—and as all Articles from the Buttery I find to be charged at a large Advance, I have advised them in future to have no Account at the Buttery— a very considerable Part of the money paid your Sister was for purchasing Cloathes for the Children, discharging Taylors Bills &c—
        The Produce of your half of the Farm amounted to about £30 the last year, a considerable Part of this is absorbed in Taxes & Services done by Pratt and is accounted for in the Settlement of his Account and no more of it enters into my Account than you find Credited to you— I have vested about £200 sterlg in public Securities part of which is included in this Acctt. & the Remainder in the next. I think it must be for your Advantage to lay out as little as may be in Lands at present and to keep as much as you can in personal Property that will not be visible and at the same Time productive. whether this may be best effected by the purchase of public Notes is problematical the Interest from them is distant, the Continental are at 2/6 per £ State Notes @ 3/6— Bills of Exchange are fallen much— They have been purchased within a fortnight past from £5 pr. Ct. to Par at 30 Days. I have sold one Bill this Day dated the 15th. Inst. to Mr. John Osborn of £150 sterlg at 30 Days Sight 5 pr Ct above par of which I have given Mr. Adams Notice in a Letter by Capt Kettlewell bound to Liverpool but am doubtful, whether I shall get so much again
        We are, in the Massachusetts, at present in a State of Peace and Quietness, waiting for the Result of the federal Convention— Pardon has been granted to all those Traitors that were under Sentence of Death— The sudden Departure of a small French Fleet which came here about 5 or 6 Weeks past and which were expected to have lain here for some Time longer, has occasioned much Speculation—and leads many to fear that Storms are rising in Europe and will shortly overspread many Nations.
        Mr. Adams’s Defence has gone through several Editions in America—it has met with great Applause there are a few however, that seem to be disgusted with his Encomiums on the British Constitution and the Spirit which the Defence discovers against pure Democracy There are some whom we may suppose to be fomentors of Faction under british Influence and perhaps employed to poison the Minds of People & sew Discord, who have endeavoured to insinuate into the Minds of some People, That Mr. A. was for Monarchy and his Plan to introduce one of the young Princes of England to take the Throne in America the Remarks of the London Monthly Reviews have been published here a few Days past and those of the critical Reviewers follow them as a contrast— The Ill nature of Great Britain towards America—American Ministers & American Productions will continue untill we have a national efficient Government—
        I forgot to mention, that Mr. Thos. Allen late of Braintree died in So Carolina the 25 of Augt. last; previous to closing with Mr Borland, I sounded Mr. Abel respecting the of his Farm. He wished to sell it—but his Price I found to be from 28 to 3000 £ a Price so high that he will not be able to sell it— His Fathers Death will probably occasion the Sale of it at what it will fetch be it more or less—
        At Weymouth We are far advanced towards the Settlement of a Minister (Who is not a married Man) by name Mr Jacob Norton, Son of our Cous. Sam Norton Esq. of Abington, He will probably be ordained in a fortnight or Three Weeks— He is young, possesses good Abilities, & a good Character—as yet but little acquainted with the World—
        Our good and worthy Uncle Smith has for some Months manifested a declining State of Health; for years past he has been affected with a scorbutic Humour in one of his Legs— Sometime in July upon the going of a severe Cough, it became very troublesome accompanied with a swelling & Inflammation of the Limb which rose to such a Degree as to threaten a Mortification and for some Days every Symptom indicated the Loss of Life—the Danger however from his Limb subsided— But the general State of his Health gives us no very flattering Expectations of his recovering his former State and for Ten Days past, I cannot find any material Amendment other than in the diseased Limb—
        24t.
        To morrow a Committee of the Overseers will visit our University we shall then have Specimens of the Students Improvements and I hope to have the Pleasure of seeing Masr Charles acquit himself with Honor—a Part in the Exhibition (I am informed) is assigned Him—
        Our Cousin Willm. Cranch is studying Law with Mr Dawes—
        I have taken a View of the Buildings & Fences, at Borlands, and find much to do— The West Room which is finished with Mohogany—Would you have it painted?—if so inform me— It would perhaps be an Amendment, if one or two Windows were cut out at the West End of it and the Closets removed. The Front Rooms below & Chambers above as well as the outside of the House require Painting— The Walls of the East Room & Chamber over it must be papered or painted—the Hangings are all removed—
        The Floor of the East Room below is 17 by 15 ½ Feet If you provide a Floor Cloth, the Hearth I suppose must be taken out, which is 5 Feet long—18 Inches wide (I. E. projecting out to the Floor)— the West Room 16 by 16 ½ Hearth 5 ½ Ftt. long 2 Ftt. 2 Inches Wide— I am repairing the Windows (which will require a 15l. of Glass) and what else that may be of immediate necessity & shall make preparations against the Spring for completing the whole before which Time I shall receive your Instructions You will embrace the first oppy. to give such Directions relative to the Buildings &C that you may think necessary
        Adieu Your Affecte. Friend
        Cotton Tufts—


Title: Mercy Otis Warren to Abigail Adams, 22 September 1787
From: Warren, Mercy Otis
To: Adams, Abigail

          Milton Sept 22 1787

        I thank my dear Mrs Adams for Mrs Montagues observation, on the writings of shakespear which I received by Calihan.
        though every part of your letters always Give me pleasure I found a Certain Satisfaction peculiar in that paragraph in your last which Gives an intimation that you mean to return to America in The Spring. uncertain as all human events are I cannot but look forward & in a degree anticipate the pleasure of haveing Friends I so highly esteem again in my Neighbourhood. & even if we should leave milton the distance to plimouth will appear very inconsiderable to so Great a traviller. But here reflection Gives a check to expectation—and when I survey the changes of time & the large portion I have already trodden over I Cannot have a right to Calculate for much: on this side the Grave. That silent asylum has my dear madam enwraped many you loved on this side the atlantic since you left us. You are doubtless prepared to see new tenants in the hospitable manssion of your uncle & aunt Smith.—
        I Go this afternoon to Visit the Good Mrs allen who has lately recevied the sad tidings of the Death of her husband, who made his exit in the Carolinas where he was about to remove his Family.
        Politics I shall leave till the next conveyance at least. as a dead Calm reigns among us that I fear will be suceeded by contrary appearances when the doings of The Convention are divulged or at least before we have a strong permanent a Wise tranquil & Free Goverment: many are dispossed to adapt the result of Their deliberations be they what they may: others are perversly bent on opposition though ever so well digested a Federal plan may appear: a third Class will as obstinatly oppose what appears to them wrong as they will decidedly support whatever they think right: or that tends to the General welfare.— well—half a page on a subject I just promissed not to touch. thus the Itch of scribling often betrays us into inconsistancy & somtimes exposses to other inconveniencies—but silence is impossed on my pen with regard to one of my most Respecteed & most punctual Correspondents had Mr Adams Condesended even to answer it would not have been so severe as a total neglect. and was it not for one circumstance I should suppose by the uniform reserve of the whole Family that a packet sent by Calihan to the american minister never reached his hand. if it did he will Gratify my curiosity by the monosyllable Yes & I will not wound his delacacy by urging him to say more—
        I am very sorry to hear you do not enjoy perfect health. but hope if your excussions over the pleasant Island of Great Britain dos not restore. a Voyage to america will reestablish a Blessing so necessary for the enjoyment of all Others.
        Mr Warrens most Friedly regards to You & Yours accompany the best wishes of one who is happy in subscribing / Mr Adams & Your ever / affectionate Friend
        M Warren


Title: Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 23 September 1787
From: Cranch, Mary Smith
To: Adams, Abigail

          Braintree September 23d. 1787
          My dear Sister

        I wrote to you about three weeks since thinking clallahan would sail immediatly but he is not yet gone & I find Folger will go before him—but my Letters will be old unless I add a short one now— I was not a little dissapointed by not receiving a Line by the Last vessel which arriv’d Doctor Tufts receiv’d one from you & he got it before those you sent by the way of new york He will tell you about the Purchase he has made of Mr Borlands Estate for you—we think you have an excellent bargain. I am rejoic’d that you will have a house big enough to hold your self & Friends when they visit you—you must make a square house of it— It will take one large room to hold Mr Adams Books If you make it with Alcoves like the college Library it will make a beautiful appearence— We are amuseing ourselves with the alterations which it is probable you will make. I have seen your Mother Hall this Day—she is well & looks I tell her several years younger for the prospect she has of having you so near her. She wishes you here now nine months are nine years to one at her time of Life— you will have very agreable neighbours in Mr Woodwards Family, Doctor chancys Daughter Mrs Adams is a pritty sociable woman. she Boards with them—but you have met with a real Loss in the Death of Mr Alleyne—He possess’d a most benevolent heart, never meant to injure any one & always rejoice’d to do good & make his fellow creatures happy— He dy’d going from Wilmington to charlestown—was out but four days— we have not yet heard his dissorder you know what a Family of Love they were & will not wonder that they are greatly afflected Mr Abel tells me the House & Farm must be sold immediately. I wish you had it—& we that which you have bought. We should be just near enough together then— as to the Estate we live upon I know not whether it will ever be sold—it is going to ruin fast It is not yet determin’d yet who it belongs to
        We have not heard one word from your son JQA since he went to Newbury— your other sons were well yesterday Lucy & Billy went to see them & carry them some clean Linnin There is to be a publick Exebition next Teusday cousin charles is to speak a Dialogue with a Mr Emmerson of concord—who looks much like him & is his bosom Friend— My nephew was much affected yesterday by the rustication of one of his class Lucy said he look’d as if he had shed tears— & I suppose he had— He was his chum the Freshman year—& study’d with him at Mr Shaws— He is a youth of great spirits—& one would have suppos’d they would have preserv’d him from so mean an action as stealing from any one especially his classmates— What could tempt him to this vice I cannot conceive. His Father is the richest man in Bradford & he an only child—but the old man lives very mean & is very close The young man spoke very handsomely before the governer—of the college denys the fact although the goods were found lock’d up in his chest— I am griev’d for him. He is a fine genious & has naturally a good disposition
        uncle Smith remains much in the same state he was when I wrote before his Leg grows better—but his other complaints are not remov’d—
        you have sent for the height of your Rooms but paper for rooms the Doctor says are so well made here that he thinks you will not attempt to bring any—

        The report of Mr Adams returning soon has set the tools of the present administration spiting like so many Cats but I know he will not care for them
        our Friend Mrs Russel remains very low & Nancy Sever is worse than her sister—
        I wish you would make a very particular inqueery how the gloscesshire [Che]ese is made—in what manner they prepair the Roun[ds—]how they give the yellow colour to the cheese you kn[ow ou]r procss in making cheese, discover if you can every var[iat]ion from our method— My cheeses look finely this summer & some of them want nothing but the colour inside to make them every way as good as English ones— I have not had more than four cows this summer & I think I have seven hundred weight of cheese—& I have made all the butter we have eat. We have had a large Family all summer—some of sister Smiths children have been with me ever since May Cousin Ebbit cranch & Eliza Bond have been with us six weeks— mr cranch has been at home all summer & is turnd quite a Farmer— by this account of our Family you will not suppos—we have been very Idle this season—
        Doctor Tufts will transmit you our commencment accounts—I believe you will not think we were very extravagant—& yet I assure you we had enough of every thing & it was all very good—& every body seem’d pleas’d—
        I have had no occation to advance any money for your sons Pockit expences. Doctor Tufts has given them quite as much as has been necessary for them— too much would be a great injury to their studys— The prudence of your eldest son might have been trusted with thousands—
        When I think of your return I rejoice with trembling may god protect you & return you safe to your native country & to your affectionate sister
        old Mrs Thayer is upon her annual visit to this Parish she is eighty nine years old she hopes “she shall live to see dear Madam Adams return[”]
        Mary Cranch


Title: Abigail Adams to Elizabeth Cranch, 1 October 1787
From: Adams, Abigail
To: Cranch, Elizabeth

          october 1 1787
          my dear Eliza

        I am very sorry to find by your Mammas Letters that you are unwell. I wish you could have made an excursion with me to have visited your Relations in this country We often talkd of you, and I always told them how good you all were, at which they appeard to be much gratified. Your cousin J Cranch who travelld a great part of the way with us thinks he has a very accurate knowledge of you. I am not sure that if he was in America, he might put a pr of Buckles into his shoes & hold up his Head. he often brought young Hill who formerly studied with your uncle to my mind. he is certainly a Man of talants, but he wants the manner of displaying them to advantage. whilst we were at plimouth we proposed a visit to Horsham about 8 miles distant, but a part of the road only was Turnpike. we inquired if we could go in a carriage, and we were told that we might, but the persons who gave us this advise did not attend to the difference between a coach & a post chaise. We set out in our own carriage & four, but not being a turnpike we took a wrong course and squezd through the narrowest way that a carriage ever past before the hedges on both sides meeting, I expected every moment when the coach man & postilion would have shared the fate of Absolom. about 2 miles before we came to the House we were compleatly stoped a Good man seeing our difficulty advised to pass through two wheet feilds, but there we were obliged to dismount and leave the carriage for the Servants to get on as well as they could. the lane which led to the House was so wet and Springy that we could not walk it without being over our Shoes, & this as I had Silk on was not quite so convenient, & through the Fields the hedges which we had to climb over were so high that it was totally impracticable to attempt. mr J Cranch who had never been at the place before, Scrachd his head & Scolded his cousin for permitting the road to be so obstructed, but finding a Gate Sampson like he lifted it from the hinges & made it serve for a Ladder to pass over the hedges, but still we could not avoid near a mile of wet & mud. we were determined however not to give out, tho the weather was very Hot. Miss Palmer who by our long detention & struggl, had got intelligence of our comeing came out with Pattens for us & met us half way. She accosted us with affibilyty and welcomd us with politeness. her manners were easy and unaffected, her countanance full of sensibility, and Sprightliness her form Geenteel her face more pleasing than Beautifull. I could trace many Lines of her Brother, to whose memory she still paid a tributary Tear— the Brother with whom she lives I did not see, but all Relations & acquaintance alike represent him as the merest clown in nature. I was sorry he was absent, as I could scarcly credit that such a Brother as you knew & such a sister as I saw, could be from the same stock with this cimon. the house is a tidy decent farm House retird from all the world beside & there is a good Farm, but it is a Life Rent. by the Time we had rested ourselves the carriage got up by taking out the horses & drawing the coach by hand. we could only stay an hour and we parted with mutual regreet I believe returning an other road we took a guide and were obliged to dismount only once, but steep precipices rocks Bogs & hedges put us every moment in Bodily fear, and we were the first coach & four that ever attempted Horsham House. we should all have mounted on Horse back & then we should have Succeeded to our wishes—
        A Adams


Title: William Cranch to Abigail Adams, 1 October 1787
From: Cranch, William
To: Adams, Abigail

          Boston Octr. 1st. 1787.
          Madam,

        Not to acknowledge the many favours I have recieved from you, and the obligations they have laid me under, would be ingratitude in the greatest Degree. The only method now in my power of Cancelling those obligations is to acknowledge them & perhaps prevent your being dissappointed, should Callahan arrive before Folgier. For upon the supposition that Folgier would sail first, all the Letters for You were put on board him, but I have since heard that they will both sail tomorrow. I hear’d this morning that my Cousins at Cambridge were both well. I reciev’d a Letter from John Q. Last week, he likes his situation at Newbury-port very well. I hear’d from Braintree this morning, our friends were all well there.
        With the greatest Respect believe me / Madam Your Afft. Nephew
        WCranch.


Title: Thomas Jefferson to Abigail Adams, 4 October 1787
From: Jefferson, Thomas
To: Adams, Abigail

          Paris Octob. 4. 1787.
          Dear Madam

        By mr̃ Cutting I have an opportunity of acknoleging the receipt of your favor of Sep. 10th. inclosing one for my daughter Polly. when she received it she flushed, she whitened, she flushed again, & in short was in such a flutter of joy that she could scarcely open it. this faithful history of her sensibility towards you must stand in lieu of her thanks which she has promised me she will write you herself: but at this moment she is in the convent where she is perfectly happy. by mr̃ Cutting you will also receive the 5. aunes of cambric which Colo. Smith desired me to have purchased for you at 12. livres the aune. I am sorry you were put to the trouble of advancing the money for mr̃ Sullivan’s bill: I thought myself sure that mr̃ Grand’s bill would reach you in time, and did not know he had omitted to advise mr̃ Teissier of it. he is always afraid to give to any body a complete power to call on him for money. mr̃ Littlepage is here under a secret commission from the King of Poland. possibly it may become a permanent one. I thank you for the American newspapers, and am glad to find that good sense is still uppermost in our country. great events are I think preparing here: and a combination of force likely to take place which will change the face of Europe. mr̃ Grenville has been very illy received. the annunciation by mr̃ Eden that England was arming, was considered as an insult: after this & the King of Prussia’s entrance on the territories of Holland, mr̃ Grenville’s arrival with conciliatory propositions is qualified with the title of “une insulte tres gratuite.” I am not certain that the final decision of this country is yet taken. perhaps the winter may be employed in previous arrangements unless any thing takes place at sea to bring on the rupture sooner. the Count de Gortz told me yesterday that the Prussian troops would retire from Holland the moment the states of Holland should make the expected reparation of the insult to the Princess. may not the scene which is preparing render it necessary for mr̃ Adams to defer the return to his own country?
        I have the honor to be with very sincere sentiments of esteem & respect Dear Madam—your most obedient & most humble servant
        Th: Jefferson


Title: Abigail Adams to Cotton Tufts, 5 October 1787
From: Adams, Abigail
To: Tufts, Cotton

          London october 5th 1787
          Dear sir

        Your obliging favour by captain Folger came safe to Hand, and brought me the agreeable intelligence of my Eldest sons having received His degree, and performed his part to the satisfaction of his Friends, and his own credit. you know Sir from experience, that there is no musick sweeter in the Ears of parents, than the well earned praises of their children.
        I hope he will continue through Life to mantain the Character of an honest man; and a usefull citizen I am anxious for his Health, and hope you will advise him to pay more attention to it, than he is inclined too
        I presume before this time mr Adams’s & my letters must have reachd you, respecting the purchase of Borlands place. I hope to hear from you upon this subject by Callihan: Mr Adams has written to you concerning our Farm and thinks it best to take it into his own Hands, as it will want manure, and many other things done; which we cannot expect from a Tenant, but as some arrangements will be necessary before we shall be able to reach America, I have thought whether Pheby would not undertake the dairy, with an assistant, and whether the other buisness might not be performd by hireing a man & Boy & agreeing to pay him a certain Sum he finding himself—
        I know it is much easier to propose these things than to do them, and that it is putting a great deal of trouble upon you. Belcher used to be a good Hand & knows the place perfectly well, if you should buy mr Borlands place, that also will require attention. I hope we may be able to get home in june at furthest.—
        Every thing here looks Hostile, and England is arming with all expedition and seem fully bent upon war, without a single object of Benifit, or conquest. The Nation appear very well pleasd at the prospect. The Conduct of France towards Holland, betrays either weakness or Fear. She has by her late conduct faded the laurels which she won in America. She has left her Ally, in their greatest distress, a prey to the orange mob, & the prussian Army To the machinations of British politicks, & the Tyrranny of the Stadholder. The Country will in a manner, be depopulated, the wealth of it transferd to other Nations, and the Prince of orange the Monarck of Frogs, perhaps the insolence of this Nation may provoke France to strike some unexpected stroke, but it will be too late to save Holland. The Patriots have already experienced the most outrageous conduct, and wanton cruelty, in the destruction of their Houses, and the ravage of their property, every personal indignity, and a constant threatning of their lives.
        Such is the Mobility of all countries when once let lose, another lesson for America. I hope She will be wise enough to keep clear of the Blaize which threatnes Europe. She may rise into power and concequence, even by the Calamities of other Nations if she improves their folly arright
        Mr Adams has finishd his other volm and requests when they arrive you would distribute a 2d volm to all those Gentleman to whom he sent the first, as well as those you added to the List, not forgetting Brother Shaw— The Reviewers to this month are sent you.
        Remember me to your Son and believe me dear sir / most affectionately yours,
        A Adams


Title: Abigail Adams to John Quincy Adams, 12 October 1787
From: Adams, Abigail
To: Adams, John Quincy

          London october 12th 1787
          My dear son

        I cannot begin my Letter by thanking you for yours. You write so seldom, that you, do not give me the opportunity, yet I think you would feel dissapointed if you did not get a few Lines from me. I congratulate you upon your Success at Commencment, and as you have acquired a reputation upon entering the stage of the World, you will be no less solicitious to preserve and increase it, through the whole drama. it is said of Hannibal that he wanted nothing to the compleation of His martial virtues, but that when he had gained a victory, he should know how to use it. it is natural to the humane Heart to swell with presumption when conscious of superiour power, yet all humane excellence is comparative, and he who thinks he knows much to day, will find much more still unatained, provided he is still eager in persuit of knowledge. Your Friends are not anxious that you will be in any danger through want of significant application, but that a too ardent persuit of your studies will impair your Health, & injure those bodily powers and faculties upon which the vigor of the mind depends. Moderation in all things is condusive to human happiness, tho this is a maxim little heeded by Youth, whether their persuits are of a sensual, or a more refined and elevated kind
        It is an old Adage, that a man at 30, must be either a fool or a Physician. tho you have not arrived to that age, you would do well to trust to the advise, and experience of those who have. our Bodies are framed of such materials as to require constant exercise to keep them in repair, to Brace the Nerves and give vigor to the Animal functions. thus do I give you Line upon Line, & precept upon precept.
        By the Time this reaches you, you will have heard of the Humiliating condition of Holland. History does not furnish a more striking instance of abject Submission, and depression totally and almost unresistingly conquerd by a few prussian troops, a Nation, that formerly withstood the whole power & force of spain, and gave such proofs of Bravery and prowess as astonishd surrounding Nation, now Humbled to the dust, by an imperious & haughty woman, backed by the Troops of Prussia, for a mere trifling affront or rather this has been the speicious pretence for all the Horrors which are brought upon the patriots & Friends of Liberty in Holland. May her Name descend with eternall obloquy to future ages. Poor Dumas & family have lived in a state worse than death, since to exist in constant dread of being drag’d a victim to an enraged mob, who were constantly threatning him, & his family with destruction: is worse than death. his Friends all forsook him or dared not appear in his behalf. he wrote a most afflicting account to your pappa, & beg’d him to claim protection for him as acting for the united States, but as he never had any publick character, or rather never was commissond by Congress, it could not be done. mr duma you know has been engaged in the Service of France, and has received a Sallery from that Government, besides his being opposed to the measures of the Stadtholder, all of which renders him particularly obnoxious to the princess, and her party
        This Nation, piqued at the Treaty of alliance, which was last Winter, made between France & Holland have been ever since seeking Revenge, by fomenting the troubles in Holland; and Seizd the first opportunity She had in her power to Bully France. The Death of de Vergennes and the deranged State of the Finnances in France, the dispute between the King and his parliament, all, all have contributed to hasten the downfall of Liberty in Holland. England has held a very high Tone, & given it out, that if France marchd a single man to the assistance of Holland, it should be considerd as a commencment of Hostilities, and from the conduct of France, she appears to have been intimidated, and held in Awe by it. This is an other lesson to us, not to put our trust in princes. England not content with the Tame, & pacific conduct of France, is arming with a zeal, and Eagerness really astonishing, to every person of reflection, who can See no object which she can have in view, adequate to or as a compensation for the horrur and distress, she must bring upon her Subjects by the increase of expences and the accumulation of the National debt.
        If I was not present to hear, and see it I could scarcly credit, that a whole people Should not only tamely Submit to the evils of war, but appear frantick with joy at the prospect, led away by false Glory, by their passions & their vices they do not reflect, upon past calamities, nor approaching destruction and few of them have better reasons to offer for their conduct than the Lady with whom I was in company the other day, who hoped their would be a war. pray said I how can you wish so much misiry to mankind? o said she, if there is a war, my Brother, & Several of my Friends will be promoted. In the general Flame which threatnes Europe, I hope & pray, our own Country may have wisdom sufficient, to keep herself out of the Fire. I am sure she has been a sufficiently burnt child.
        Remember me to your Brothers, if I do not write to them. I have sent you some cotton stockings, and am / Your affectionate mother
        A. Adams


Title: Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, [before 18] October London 1787
From: Adams, Abigail
To: Cranch, Mary Smith

          [ante 18] october London 1787
          my dear sister

        I have already written you a long letter giving you an account, of my journey, this must relate Chiefly to private affairs. your Letters by captain cushing and Folger came safe to hand. I thank you for your pleasing account of commencment, as well as for your care and attention to my sons, which it is unnecessary to solicit a continuance off because I am perfectly sure of it. I am sorry a certain family took it into their heads to be affronted, but it is not the first instance in which they have held them too high. America is very apt to make Englishmen forget what they once were, or that they owe all their importance to her. I often think of an observation of our Grandmothers, who used to say, that it was a mercy to the World, some people were kept poor, since were they rich their haughtiness and insolence would be intollerable.
        I feard the Sandles would prove too long. I sent them back once to the Shoemaker, thinking he must have made a mistake in the measure. I have endeavourd to pattern the Silk you sent, but the Shop where I purchased the other, upon the late rise in silks, sold of the whole stock. I pray these four yds may be considerd as a part of the other, and not as they say split an Acorn. a dozen pr of cotton stockings Captain Folger will take charge of for my son J Q A, and some blew broad cloth for my others, as they will want one coat a year I presume. I hope your Urn went safe by Barnard, as well as some articles I sent to JQA—
        I begin to think seriously of arranging matters, for our return in April Next, and I wish for your advise relative to our affairs in America. mr Adams thinks it best that mr Pratt should go of in April as he means to take the management of the place into his own Hands and to endeavour to recover it from the poverty into which it has fallen through want of manure, &c there must be somebody to look after the dairy, and I think it may with safety be trusted to Pheby provided she will undertake it, but then she must have an assisstant The Question is, can she get one? or keep one after she has got her? There must also be some hands to look after the place, and to do the out door Labour. mr Adams will not have any corn raised upon it, so that the Labour will be much lessned, as things are so circumstanced. I think it would be best to Hire a man by the month & let him find himself. I hope we shall arrive in May or june, the Gardens we would wish cultivated, and such roots &c put in as we may stand in need of. If the doctor has purchased mr Borlands place for us, there will necessaryly be many things to do there I wish to have the Garden cultivated that we may at least have some vegetables to live upon when we return, but upon this subject I shall be better able to judge when I hear again from the Doctor. I hope you will get an opportunity to write to me what you think best to be done and consult with the Dr to whom I shall write, and agree with Pheby upon some terms, if the Dr and you should approve—I do not know a more trust worthy Hand.
        every thing in this Country wears a Hostile appearence. France is said to be arming in concequence of it, and the Prussians have subjugated Holland—alass! poor Holland, like a sheep has it been deliverd to slaughter, panic struck she has submitted, discouraged and disheartned, unassisted by France her ally, who could not, or would not interfere, in season bullied by England. she seems now determined to resent it. Amsterdam still holds out, but tis Generally believed she will negotiate & make the best terms she can. The Patriots at the Hague & in delft, have been abused insulted & treated by the orange mob, with every species of indignity, unheard of wanton cruelties have been perpetrated, their Houses destroyed, their property laid waste, and every moment in jeopardy of their lives—in short the scene is too dismall to relate. read mr Adams’s second volm his History of the Italian Republick, and you will find a History of what is now acting in Holland. This Court have had the greatest Hand in bringing these calamities upon the Dutch, and are now going to War with all speed to continue them in it, & to support the statholder the whole Nation appeard engaged in it, and perfectly satisfied that it should be so. I hope & pray that our Country may be wise enough to keep out of it, and if they do they may milk the cow as it is termd, and it may prove benificial to their Trade, and commerce—
        Col smith has returnd about a month since, but not without encountering a fit of sickness, in the Hot climates of Spain, & portugal, which like to to have cost him his Life. he got home looking like a shaddow, but has recruited finely since
        My Grandson I cannot call him little for he is as fat as his Mamma was when she was a Baby. he is very well & sprightly. we talk of innoculating him for the small pox. I feel rather loth, but he is exposed to take it every time he goes out. he has cut two Teeth, there never was a healther child. we often tell him how Aunt Cranch would squeze him. I think my Journey was of service to my Health, I have been much better Since
        Believe me my dear sister most affectionately / yours
        A. Adams


Title: Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 20 October 1787
From: Adams, Abigail
To: Cranch, Mary Smith

          London october 20th 1787
          Dear sister

        As captain Folger is not yet gone I write a few more lines by him, tho I have nothing new to acquaint you with, only that two days ago my little darling was inoculated for the Small pox. if whenever you come to have Grandchildren, you will scarcly know any difference between them & your own children, particularly if you should be under the same roof with them;
        I have got mr Jenks to take the little Box & the Bonet wires for my Neices. they will observe in making them, to put the Gauze round the crown higher than the small pattern sent, which is only a minature I have sent by him addrest to you 3 yd of mock marcells which is a pattern for 4 waistcoats, 2 of which are designd for my Nephew, & the other two for my Eldest son. They are much in fashion just now, tho they may not be worn in winter with you, they will look well for summer, and I think we can manufacture winter Cloaths in America much better than summer. it may have been an Eoconomical plan to Some person, putting the Scholars into a uniform, but it is not so to me, because I could have made use of Cloaths that must now be useless to me, and when my sons are all grown up, a 2d hand coat will not be so acceptable to them.
        Sister Smith has a large family of Boys—would not some of the childrens Cloaths which they have out Grown be usefull to them. if so you will give them to her. where is our Brother? is he in any buisness I hope he does not suffer for want of the necessaries of Life, tho he has been so underserving.
        pray who lives upon Germantown, I have never heard, and how does mr P ——r family exist? where is Mrs Payne? What is become of mr T——r
        I was much pleased with mr Daws’s oration, and I sent it out to mr Hollis at the Hyde, together with the News paper which mentiond the Honorary degree of Dr of Laws conferd upon him. inclosed is his answer the portrait he mentions, was one of his present Majesty, a most ridiculous thing be sure, but a most striking likeness and I sent it to him to put with his curiosities. I mention this circumstance to explain a part of his Letter.
        We have all been to the Hyde and spent a very pleasent week there. it is just 24 miles from Town. mr Hollis’s American Friends as he calls them flourish finely, these are a number of American plants & Trees—which he has fancifully named after his Friends
        adieu my dear sister excuse these hasty lines from your ever / affectionate
        A A


Title: Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 21 October 1787
From: Cranch, Mary Smith
To: Adams, Abigail

          Braintree october. 21d 1787
          My dear Sister

        To hear that our dear good uncle Smith is added to the number of the Friends who have departed this Life since you left america will not greatly surprize you if you have receiv’d my Letters by the last ships which sail’d: yes my sister That good Man last monday morning about Two a clock clos’d his Eyes upon this vain world never more to open them till the last joyful Trump shall Wake to life all the nations of the earth— His disorder was something like coll. Quincys excepting that there was not a mortification— He did not suffer much Pain after the swelling abait’d in his Leg but he continu’d to sink a way & his life went out like the last snuff of a candle—without a sigh or groan. Five or six hours before he dy’d as he was laying upon the couch—he call’d Nabby & told her to send for all his Friends—His children & Brothers & sisters he meant Doctor & mrs Welch were of the number—“That he wish’d to see them once more”—“He was almost sure he should not live till the morning” They came—he gave them his blessing charg’d them to live in Love & harmony with each other & to take care of nabby & never to let her want any of the comforts of Life— He then desir’d that mr Clark might be sent for— he had often visited him in his sickness— He Lov’d him he said & was comforted by his conversation— when he came—he told he that he had sent for him to pray with him once more— He sat up & said all this with as strong a voice as when he was well— The Docr did not think but he might have liv’d a week & told him so— no said he I shall dye this night— at ten the Doc found his Pulse alter’d— he went to sleep, but was restless & uneasey—nabby got up at one to give him some thing to take. he told her, that he could not help himself at all— she went to the Bed to assist him but found she had to close his Eyes— I went to town the next day to see him not knowing that he was dead— I had seen him almost every week since he was taken sick— He was most tenderly affected towards his Friends— the Letter he receiv’d from you by Barnard affected him so much that he shed Tears— I went in just as he had done reading of it— “Thank her for me” said he to me “& tell her that I shall never write to her again— tell her also that I have notic’d one thing which I do not like— she often mentions going to meeting in the morning & having company to dine & spend the afternoon— I know she can not avoid it now—but I do not like it— I hope they will not do it when they return—tell her I say so—” I promis’d him I would— you know the strict manner in which they use’d to keep the sabbath would ill agree with the loose manners of Europe—
        He has left a most excellent character behind him many besides his children will rise up & call him blessed we my dear sister have lost in him another Parent— cousin Betsy bears the loss of Father much better than she did of her Mother. she has had time to prepair her mind for this. the other was sudden & it was the first real sorrow she ever knew— she looks calm & placed— cousin William sustains his loss with the most firmness— as to the amiable Preacher His Soul is bow’d down with sorrow He has no command of his tender Passions He is naturally low spirit’d—& he feels his loss more for not having a Family of his own & being in such an unsettled State—
        uncle has left his Estate to be equally divided between his children only he has given cousin Betsy 150lb more than the others to make her equal to mrs Otis to whom he has given firniture. Betsy will live with her Brother Willm. It is very happy for her that he has such a charming woman for his wife—you will admire her
        uncle Smith is the seventh Person who has dy’d in our Familys since you left us—but my dear sister I have an eighth to add who tho he has long since been lost to us—yet while life remain’d I did hope would sooner or later return & be a comfort to us—
        Sister last week receiv’d a Letter from a mr Barnard who says he was his Physician informing her that her Husband dy’d the 10th of september of the black jandice that the Family he was in took good care of him in his illness. That he was so well three days before his death as to be able to do considerable writing—but of what kind I do not know— He liv’d four miles from him & was not with him when he dy’d so cannot he says tell what the state of his mind was in that decicive moment— sister is going to answer his Letter— we shall know more I hope by his reply— your own mind will furnish you with the best Idea of what I feel upon this occation a meriful God will do right—
        When I was in town I heard of an English vesil just ready to sail—but I could not get a moment to write there— I had a great deal of business to do your sons from college are with me & I expect cousin JQA from Newburry with Mr Shaw & sister tomorrow—I must set my Tailors to work to fix them for winter—Miss Nancy Quincy Betsy Cranch & her Brother came from Haverhill last Friday & left all well Mr Thaxter is publish’d this day & is to be married next month—

        I long & fear to have cushing arrive your account of your Health makes me very uneasey— I wish you was with me & under Docr. Tufts care— I hope your journey has been of service to you— your sons Mother Hall & all your Braintree Friends are well— I have not time to say anything about your house now I shall write again soon— I have much to say— mr cranch & the children send Love to you & yours
        accept it also from your sister


Title: Isaac Smith Jr. to Abigail Adams, 30 October 1787
From: Smith, Isaac Jr.
To: Adams, Abigail

          [30 October 1787]
          my dear Mrs Adams

        The last year I acquainted you with the death of my mother, & I am sorry that I have now to inform you of that of my father, an event which has renewed my griefs, & will again excite your sympathetic feelings.
        If any person bid fair for length of years, I thought this was the Case with my late valuable parent, but heaven it seems, to whose decisions it becomes us always humbly to submit, as wise & fit, had determined that he should not long survive my dear mother, sorrow for the loss of whom, accompained with much inward anxiety for the welfare of his family, which he knew he should not leave in such easy & happy circumstances, as he wished to do, & as he once supposed it was in his power to have done, preyed upon his vitals & proved the means of bringing his days to a period, I ought not to say too soon, but sooner than I had flatter’d myself they would have ended, & sooner than the good wishes of his friends in general would have extended them. He had lived long enough to answer the great purposes of life; with the partner of his cares, with your own excellent & kind parents, whom I consider’d too in some sort as mine, & with other of our dear relatives & friends, who have been taken from us, in your absence, he is gone to rest, & may it be my concern to follow him.
        I feel thankful, that I am not an infidel. When we once part with the Consolations of the Gospel, what support have we left, worthy to be mentioned, in such circumstances as those in which I am now placed? The idea of annihilation I Can never adopt. How pleasing the prospect of a revival, & how fond should we be of cherishing the thought of a reunion with our friends, with those among them more especially whom we have most highly esteemed, & of our being permitted to enjoy infinitely greater pleasure & satisfaction in the company of each other hereafter, than is possible here, where our happiness is so often liable to interruption, & is never free from some mixture of alloy. It was with the highest relish I read Dr Price’s dissertation on this subject some years ago, & as you frequently see this goodman, if you think it worth while to do so, I beg you will give my respects to him. With very different views of the probable Consequences of a revolution in America, from what he, & many others, whom I have known & respected, on both sides of the water, possest, I have yet at the same entertained the sincerest veneration for him. A vol. of his sermons has lately been received & read here with much approbation. I have not myself as yet been gratified with the perusal of them.—
        Of our political situation at present, you will hear eno’ from other quarters, & will therefore not expect any thing from me[.] We are on the eve I hope of a change for the better, b[ut I] would not undertake to say what events, the jealousy [. . .] ignorance, ambition, or restless disposition of individual [. . .] may produce in the course of a few months, the evils arising from which it may not be in the power of the wisest counsels to prevent.—
        If my father’s affairs are settled in such a manner, as to prevent the loss of it to his family, my brother, who is connected in marriage with a partner that makes us all happy, will take the house, & my sister Betsey will live with him. As to me, the College to which I have returned the third time, will be my home.— Mr Otis goes the next week to Congress, & leaves Mrs O. in a situation, in which she stands in need of comfort— Mr & mrs Atkinson with their little family have gone to New York— Chas. Storer is a resident at Passamaquoddy, & his sister Polly is with him either there, or in Nova Scotia.— You will please to remember me to Mr Adams, & Mrs Smith. I am, my dear Mrs A., with the greatest affection, Yours,
        I Smith


Title: Cotton Tufts to Abigail Adams, 31 October 1787
From: Tufts, Cotton
To: Adams, Abigail

          Boston Octobr. 31. 1787
          Dear Cousn.

        In my last Letter to Mr. Adams I inform’d Him of the Death of our beloved Uncle Smith— had we enjoyed his Life much longer, it would have been greatly desireable—but Heaven was kind in continuing that rich Blessing for so long a Time we have the utmost Assurance that He is happy tho’ We have lost one Source of our temporal Felicity— His Virtues may we imitate and with him share in a better World the Rewards of good & faithful Servants—
        I am told Capt. Barnard is to sail to Day, which obliges me to omit many Things, not expecting his Departure for some Days—
        as I take it for granted, that you will return in the Spring, it will be necessary to conduct your affairs upon that Expectation— I wish you therefore to give me as early and particular Information relative to the Repairs of Borlands Place & any other Matters as your Distance will permit and that you think necessary to be done—
        Mr. Teal who is on your Farm at Medford is an excellent Tenant— He informs me that the Farm House is scarcely tenantable, that it is the opinion of those who have viewed it, that it will be best to rebuild it.— I propose to examine it—but would wish for your Directions whether to rebuild in case it should be found necessary—the Cost will be from, £120 to 130—
        I expect to see & consult Mr Shaw this Week—he will exchange next Sabbath with Mr Norton our late ordaind Minister— Mr Shaw & his Wife attended the ordination of Mr. Ware at Hingham the Week past & are now on a Visit to his Father—

        In one of your Letters, you enquire, whether it would not be best to dispose of your House in Bostn I think not—as but very few Repairs will be required for a long Time to come—at present it yields a clearer Income than all your Lands & Estate in Braintree—
        The Genl Court is now sitting— a Resolve has passed for calling a Convention in this Commonwealth to take into consideration the form of a Constitution of Government for the United States &c I cannot make any Conjecture what will be the Issue It has warm Advocates for and warm Enemies against it— Mr. John spent the last Evening at my lodgings and is well— He will be at Cambridge to day & attend the Supreme Court some part of their Sitting— Charles & Thomas are well—return to Cambridge to Day from the fall Vacation— present my affectionate Regards to Mr Adams and accept of my best Wishes for your Health & Happiness.
        Yours—
        Cotton Tufts


Title: Abigail Adams to Cotton Tufts, 6 November 1787
From: Adams, Abigail
To: Tufts, Cotton

          London Novbr 6th 1787—
          Dear Sir

        Last week Captains Folger & Callihan arrived by whom we received all your Letters & Bills. the Bills were imediatly accepted, & will be paid when due. I feel under great obligations to you my dear sir, for all your kind care, & attention to our affairs. I am glad to find the buisness closed with mr Borland, and at a price which I think must be reasonable judging by what was formerly given for it, for I do not recollect how many acres of Land there are belonging to it. I know there is a wood lot containing 25 acres, & an other Lot of four, besides the Six which were sold to deacon Webb.— with regard to the repairs painting both without & within I should be glad to have compleated as soon as possible in the Spring, as the Smell is always pernicious to me. the east lower room to be painted what is calld a French Grey and as the furniture is red, a paper conformable, will look best. the Chamber over it will have Green furniture, and may be in the same manner, made uniform by a paper Green & white. the mahogany room, I know not what to say about it, making the two windows into the Garden will dispell much of the Gloom, & if it is not much abused & injured, had it not better remain as it is? can there be a Closset contrived in the Room when the windows are made, I could wish to have one, to make a uniform appearence, must there not be windows in the Chamber above, in the east Room. I think there are two clossets by the side of the Chimney. what would be the expence of taking them away & making arches in the Room of them? Iron Backs to the Chimneys & Brass Locks upon the Doors of the two best rooms & Chambers are all the particular directions I think of at present with regard to the other part of the House I shall leave it wholy to your judgment to make such repairs as you deem necessary and consistant with economy. as to any aditional building we cannot at present afford any. in some future day perhaps we may think of making the House Square by adding a Library, which mr A will really want, but at present, some chamber must be a substitute. The Frame set up by mr T. you do not mention. it is best to let it remain in its present state untill we return. in the painting you will be so good as to employ a person who properly understands the Buisness. I mention this, because I once Sufferd & was obliged to have a room 3 times painted when one would have answerd—
        Mr Adams has written to you respecting our Farm, & mr Pratt. it has become so poor & misirable, that we must take some measures for making it better that we may be able to get our Bread from it. indeed I think I should enjoy better Health, to come Home & make butter & Cheese, raise poultry & look after my Garden, than by the inactive Life I am compelld to lead here. it will require my strickest attention to oconomy to be able to live & compleat the Education of our children, but this does not terify me. I can conform to Whatever is necessary, with regard to the pocket expences of Charles & Tommy—you know sir, that on the one hand, we would not wish to have them too Spairingly Supplied, nor on the other permit them so much, as to lead them into Idleness & dissapation. if any thing of the kind appears you will check your Hand. Mrs Cranch knows what her son expended, and I do not see why mine Should require more. I shall write to them both, & exort them to prudence in their expences. I would venture Sir one hundred pounds more in the purchase of paper. I am fully of your mind with respect to Land and whatever purchases we may make in future, I could wish it might be better than what we already own—
        it is mr A’s intention to retire to Braintree as a private man, nor need any one fear that he will become a competitor with them for offices. he has always dealt too openly & candedly with his Countrymen to be popular, & whatever they may assert with regard to his principals, he says they may be assured that he will never conceal a Sentiment of his Heart, however unpopular it may be, which he considers for the interest of His Countrymen to know & consider, altho he should forfeit by it the highest offices in the united states. he was never yet the partizan of any Country, nor will he ever become a Tool to any party, if fourteen years unremitted attention to the Service of his Country has not convinced them that he is their unshaken Friend, it would be in vain to attempt a conviction at this day. The English Review which you mention & which I see several of the states have carefully reprinted, was written by that Honour to his Country Silas Dean, who lives here as his appearence indicates, in real want & Horrour, and is Said to be a half crown Gazzet writer. I have only room to add that the Form of Government by the late Convention is esteemed here as a sublime work. they add that it is so good that they are perswaided the Americans will not accept it, it may admitt of some amendments but it is certainly a great Federal Structure. I shall write to all my Friends by Folger. my little Boy has got well through the small pox. adieu yours / &c &c
        A A—


Title: Elizabeth Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams, 17 November 1787
From: Shaw, Elizabeth Smith
To: Adams, Abigail

          Haverhill November 17.th 1787
          My Dear Sister.—

        Friend, after Friend is severed from my Heart—I have lost many near, & dear Relatives, as well as kind Benefactors, since you left America.
        I know you will be much affected by hearing of the Death of our worthy & much lamented Uncle Smith.— You my Sister knew how bright the humane & christian Virtues shone in his Life, & cannot wonder if the Land mourns when the godly Man ceaseth, & so faithful a one fails—for such are the Pillars of Society.—
        I think he has been upon the decline, ever since the Death of our dear Aunt—the beloved Wife of his Youth.—
        He was to see us in June, after his Sons Wedding— He said if he had consulted his own feelings he should have tarried at Home—that Life had lost its relish—& that everything in which he formerly took pleasure, seemed rather to renew, & to aggravate his Sorrow.
        But he was not suffered to grieve long—for in sixteen Months he was permitted to join her gentle Spirit, with those of the “just made perfect—” & (I presume) is triumphing in those happy Regions, where they are as the Angels—where love, & Bliss immortal reign—
        We heard of his Death two Days before we sat out upon our Journey to Bridgwater—
        You cannot think how my heart recoiled at the Idea of going into Boston, & seeing my second Fathers House desolate, & sit solotary, where so late its dear owners with sweet, & endearing hospitality smiled upon each Guest, & Peace, & Plenty, cheared the social Board—
        Cousin Betsy behaves with great propriety. Her Mothers Death was the severest stroke she can ever feel. Her Spirit till then was unbroken— She had no cause before, ever to shed a Tear— She is now happy in having her Brother William married to so fine a Woman— The House is prized at twelve hundred—he will take it, & she will live with them—
        My Uncle lost a vast deal in the War—at its commencement, he was worth 40000 sterling, but now there will be but little left for the Children—So precarious are Estates—For almost every Family shews me the necessity of Childrens being taught Oeconemy, & bred early to Buisiness— My Cousins have this to comfort them, that it was not extravagance which reduced the Estate—but a train of unforeseen Events—
        Mrs Otis is to be pitied— Mr Otis is gone to Congress, & must leave her for the Winter.— You my Sister can feel for her—
        But there is not one of the Family, who feel their loss so sensibly, as our worthy Cousin Isaac He is almost overwhelmed with Grief—he mourns indeed with great bitterness of Soul— He says he has no Home now—no kind Parents House—
        Just before his Fathers Death he accepted of the Office of Librarian— I rejoiced when he left the Castle, that Den of Theives, & Miscreants, & was placed among the Literati, in a Circle much more agreeable to his Worth, Taste, & Feelings—
        They have at last got an exceeding agreeable Young Gentleman settled at Weymouth— I dare say you will be pleased with him— He supplied Mr Shaws Pulpit one Sabbath, & our young People all fell in Love with him—
        Hingham too have been wise in the choice of Mr Ware, a young Gentleman whom your Son JQA lived with the first Six months of his residence in the University—& of whom he speaks with great affection, & respect—
        They are all enthusiastically fond of him at Hingham— One Man said, Father Gay had gone to the third heaven, & had sent an Angel to take the charge of his Flock—
        Mr Shaw, & your Sister, Mr Thaxter, & Mr James, & Miss Betsy Duncan, your Sons, & Neices were with a multitude of Others, at this Ordination—where every thing was conducted with the greatest Decency &cc—
        Mr Thaxter upon the 13th of November between the Hours of six & seven, resigned his seat in batchelors Hall, & commenced the married Man—
        Mrs Russel was alive when I was in Boston, but was growing weaker every Day— She had thought of going to Carolina for the sake of the warm Climate But I presume she will soon be in a Climate, much more agreeable to her exalted Mind— Mrs Hay has been with her, for these two months— You know how tender she was of her Sister Weld— The Doctors are at a loss which will go first— Nancy Sever, or Mrs Russel— The Scene is distressing—
        Cousin Hannah Austin died the beginning of September— Mrs Austins tender Heart was much affected by her Daughters Death— Mrs Allen makes a fine Nurse, & little miss grows fast—

        Our poor Brother—He is gone too—died with the black Jandice the 3d of September after a very short Illness—
        Our feelings I suppose are similar upon this ocasion—
        The same air, we breathed—the same cradle rocked us to rest—& the same Parental Arms folded us to their fond Bosoms—& who can refrain full many a Tear at such a Death!— It is some consolation to hear, he was well taken care of in his Sickness—but poor Creature he had not lived out half his Days—he was not I think quite forty years old—
        By yours of the 20th of July you inform me of your poor health, though I cannot but flatter myself you are better, & that your Journey has removed every disorder— I want to have you come Home more than ever— I cannot bear to think of your being sick at such a Distance—
        The throat Distemper has left the Town, & our Family has been so blessed as to escape this dreadful Disease—
        I must thank my Sister for a thousand expressions of kindness— I believe you sit contriving what good you can do—& how much you can oblige your Friends— The Tea Urn has come safe, it is very useful, as well as ornamental but it would never have been in my power to purchased it— The little candle Case too is very curious— Mr Shaw desires his best respects may be accepted—& thinks himself highly favoured, & obligated by Dr Adam’s kindness, & attention—
        The Constitution you have before this, I suppose— Every body asks, what do you think Dr Adams will say & will he approve of it, or not— It is a matter of solemn importance— Mr Bayley Bartlett, & Capt Marsh are chosen by this Town to convene at Boston, upon this ocasion—
        Your Son J Q A kept Sabbath with us, & has promised to keep Thansgiving with your affectionate Sister
        Love in abundance awaits every Soul of my kindred—
        E Shaw—


Title: Thomas Brand Hollis to Abigail Adams, 4 December 1787
From: Hollis, Thomas Brand
To: Adams, Abigail

          The Hide Decem 4th. 1787.
          my Dear madam

        you put too much value on trifles which are only small marks of real regard & affection to you & yours.
        I have always conceived it to be more difficult to give than receive. as the sense of obligation sets heavy on minds inflated with riches or pride & not capable of enlarged ideas or of the pleasing sensations which arise from mutual gifts & good offices abstracted from their intrinsick value. as riches are only fortuitous, hard and deplorable indeed would be the fate of the possessors of them if they were only permitted to indulge their own personal gratification. but I am secure you will receive with the same sentiment with which things are presented and at the same time partake of & contribute to the pleasing sensations.
        The pamphlets you will please to keep till I have the pleasure of seeing you in town.
        The prospects are dismal but just & truly delineated I fear will now do us little good.— all parties were inclined for war for the reasons there assigned private interest.
        not one patriot in the house or without, to justify the —— —— inteference in the Dutch government by proposing to give them a free & equal Commonwealth in which the people should have part. at present having no share & of course no Country. from such a government justly balanced no state in Europe would have had any apprenhension of them, nor would have dared the attempt to have subjugated them.
        This would have returned the benefit they conferred upon us & have been worthy of England in her better days. but these are scenes too grand—

          and tho they shine in youth’s ingenuous view,
          the sober gainful arts of modern days
          to such romantick thoughts have bid a long Adieu.

        I was with you in spirit on friday but could not personally attend.— my compliments of health & spirits to Mr Adam & Mr Smith & shall be exceeding glad to see them here & happy they think of it. I hope the Col’s health will not prevent but I must beg two nights—that we may have one walk the next day— monday is the only day I am engaged from home. the beds well aired by Mrs Jebb & Dr Disney & shall be repeated when known when they come. I wished to have been in town to attend upon our college this day to hear some orations but it was impossible. my compliment to Mrs Smith I am Dear Madam with great truth / your obliged & affect Friend
        T. Brand Hollis.


Title: Abigail Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 5 December 1787
From: Adams, Abigail
To: Jefferson, Thomas

          London Grosvenour square December 5th 1787—

        Mrs Adams presents her respectfull compliments to Mr Jefferson and asks the favour of him to permit petit to purchase for her ten Ells of double Florence of any fashionable coulour, orange excepted which is in high vogue here. Mrs A excepts green also of which she has enough. Mr Rucker if in Paris will be so kind as to take Charge of it, & mrs Adams will send the money by mr Trumble who will be in Paris some time next week—
        By Letters this day received from Boston, it appears that a convention was agreed too, by both Houses, & that it is to meet, the second wednesday in Janary
        Mr King writes that mr Jeffersons commission, is renewed at the court of France, & mr Adams’s resignation accepted, so that we shall quit this country as soon in the Spring as we can go with Safety.
        Love to the Young Ladies & thank my dear Polly for her pretty Letter—