Title: Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, October 1[5?]-25 1789
From: Cranch, Mary Smith
To: Adams, Abigail

          Braintree october 1[5?]th 1789
          My dear Sister

        I have at last receiv’d your Letter but never was poor creature more dissapointed I thought to be sure that it contain’d orders for me to get your house in order for your reception cousin John had not a doubt but you would come. Lucy was going to spend a week at Lincoln but as aunt adams was so soon to be here she desir’d to be sent for home Sister Shaw was comeing in expectation of seeing our dear Freinds & in short we were all on Tip-Toe with expectation & I can not yet give up the fond Idea my dear Sister come— every body knows that you have remov’d almost all your Furniture— we will assist you with any thing we have— Mrs Palmers Family are ready to relive to any part of the house. I wish you would accept of such an entertainment as I could give you I have a room & chamber at your service but this I know would not be so convineent or comfortable as your own— Mr Brisler says that the expence of coming will not be equal of your staying at home— I hope you will come—but whether you do or not—you will want a number of things sent round— Mr Brisler thinks he had better Send your small wines & that your Porter had better be sold here to keep it in that cellar this winter would be runing a great risk of having it Froze. I wish you would write immideatly & let us know what you would have done would you have the winter Fruit & the Butter from your Brother adams’s—
        Mr Brisler has I believe very wisely conclu’ded to return to you—Mrs Brisler is very desirous that he should. but what will you do with your house maid you will never have any harmony in you Family while you keep her, I certainly would send her home she would do tolarably well alone, but nobody could ever live with her at Mr Apthorps—
        25th
        I had written thus far disigning to send it away immediately—but before I could finish my Letter I had news of the Vice Presidents leaving new york, & concluded you was with him & was not undeceiv’d till Mr Adams arriv’d without you. & now only think how we were dissapointed & yet I cannot say but your reasons for not comeing are good— I wish Mr Adams would accept of a room & chamber with us I do not know what he will do when Mr Brisler & his wife leave him— I think he would be more comfortable with us some body must take care of his things & him too you best know whether you can trust the new servant with the key of your cellar & other matters, here will be nobody to oversee him— Mr Brisler says he will not leave Mr Adams till you say what shall be done— he thinks it will not do to stay till the cold weather sets in before he removes his Family. he means they shall go by land— I have been in Boston till yesterday ever since I reciev’d your last Letter but will see after your Thread & Ruth Ludden this week— I am now fixing cousin Tom for winter & for a Journey eastward with his Papa— I expect Sister Shaw tomorrow— how she will be dissapointed not finding you here!— Lucy wint yesterday with her uncle & cousin to see the triumphal entrance of the President into Boston—& is not yet return’d the arches were erecting when I left the Town but as we could not all be present I stay’d at home to take care of the House you will see a pompous account of it in the prints depend upon it. The poor governor was taken with a violent fit of the Gout which render’d him unfit to grace the Ceremony with his Presence & will it is suppos’d prevent him from making the first Visit—
        Doctor Tufts was married I suppose last thursday he went for that purpose when I am more acquainted with our new aunt I will give you my opinion of her— I rejoice for cousin Lucys sake—but I think there will be no heart felt harmony between the son & new mother
        Mrs Norton increases in size very fast & wishes you could be with her in march. she would be very well if she did not have so much of the Teeth ache but she is sadly afflicted with it. Do you think Polly Tailor would do for me if you should not be able to keep her I am affraid she has been so long use’d to high living that she would not know how to accomodate her self to such strick rules of eoconimy as she must submit too here. In many things I know her to be vastly superior to the girl I have with me. this girl can spin Polly cannot, tis true Nabby does not get much time to spin she does not know how to do house work half so well as polly does nor will she turn it of so fast—but then I give her but 1/6 a week you may if you please talk to her as supposing I might take her if she should be very desirous of it. if you should wish to part with her— she will never bear to be made of any importance
        I wish if you should have any chance to make an inquiery of Doctor Rush about that magnificent Funeral in Philadelphia which our neighbors have heard of & nobody else knows any thing about. I should be glad— They continue to send & receive Letters from the Family I understand they did not all founder at sea as we expected they would—
        I am very glad that the vice President & President are upon such friendly terms I never suppos’d it otherways notwithstanding those who wish’d it might not be true have been so busy in spreading reports of the animosety subsisting between the Familys— I have taken care to read such parts of your Letters as would contradict such Idle storys— As to the Fragment it was not even a nine days wonder here— it was despis’d by every body of any sentiment or goodness. The Authors revengful temper is well known & he has really hurt nobody but himself.

        I think those who are admitted to spend a social hour with Mrs Washington must be much pleas’d with her, from your discription of her I think her Levee days are not the pleasantest she spends. I hope I shall see the President before he returns
        By this time I suppose Louisia & the dear little Boy are begining to feel the effects of their dessorder I hope they will not be bad I shall feel anxious till I hear again
        How happy I should feel to spend a few Days with you in this recess fall from the shackels of ceremony— The sweet Little Boy I have with me makes our house chearful— he is a fine Child full of chat & very sensible— If it was not for him I should sometimes be very melancholy.—
        Mr Cranch desires me to present his Love to you & tell you he was as much dissapointed as any of us by your not comeing he is as thin as he was last fall the heat & hard work of the summer has carried away all the Flesh he had peck’d us in the winter
        I am sorry for your attacks of the Rhumatism— I am sadly worry’d with it myself & am now scarcly able to sit in my chair I am in so much pain with it—
        You will write me soon I hope as I wish to know what you would have sent to you by Barnard— give my Love to all my Cousins & accept the affectionate Love of your / grateful Sister
        Mary Cranch


Title: Lucy Cranch to Abigail Adams, 23 October 1789
From: Cranch, Lucy
To: Adams, Abigail

          Braintree October 23. [1789]
          My dear Aunt—

        Though we were all happy to see my honoured and revered Uncle again in his favorite Braintree, yet we were disapointed, greatly in not seeing you with him— we had indulged ourselves in the pleasing hope of meeting the sister the Aunt the Friend we all so greatly love and esteem. your presence would have enlivened our circle—and made many of the winter hours pass more cheerelly— we should have regreted the disapointment more if the season had not been too far advanced to make your return to New-York agreable. and we would not purchase pleasure at the price of your health and comfort—
        There are great preparations makeing in Boston for the reception of the President— one plan was to erect a Colossal statue which should represent Genl. Washington—and all the people were to walk under it.
        Was there ever any people who acted so inconsistently as some of ours do, to clamour and rave if there is a shaddow of power given their rulers and at the same time pay them homage in a manner that would disgrace the subjects of the Grand Turk—
        Mr Brisler desired I would let you know, that he was determined to return to you—and would beg of you to secure him a room and bed room in French-Peters house which is in the road just below your house, the Coach man says they were not ingaged when he came away— he would be glad to have five or six cord of wood laid in for him—as he thinks it can be procured cheaper now than when he returns— he means to send his things round by Bearnad now, and go on with his wife as soon as possible— he wishes much to hear from you again before he goes—
        Mama has been in Boston since Tuesday— Cousin Thomas has gone to town for her to day— Uncle, and Mr Wibird dined with my Father and me to day— they are now below feasting upon politics—The good Dr Tufts—I suppose was married yesterday—

        remember me kindly to all my Cousins—and be assured my dear Aunt that I am at all times your gratefully / affectionate and dutiful Neice
        Lucy Cranch


Title: John Adams to Abigail Adams, 1 November 1789
From: Adams, John
To: Adams, Abigail

          Braintree Nov. [1] Sunday 1789
          My dearest Friend

        I thank you for your kind Letter inclosing that from our Friend Hollis. The Influenza is here as general as it was at N. York.— Your youngest Son has been laid up with it at Mr Cranche’s; but is better. Mr Wibird is confined with it, so that We had no Meeting. I have been to visit him: He is not very bad: but not fit to go out. My great Horse, had a Misfortune last night in the Stable, that he will not get over this fortnight. I am thankful that he is alive.
        Mr Brisler is preparing his Goods to go by Bernard, who Sails on Wednesday, and will go with his Family next Week in the Stage.
        I have Spent a Week in Boston which I have not done before these fifteen years. General Washington between Sam. Adams and John, The Fratrum dulce Par, mounted up to View in the Stone Chapell and in Concert Hall to be sure was a Spectacle for the Town of Boston. The Remarks were very Shrewd— Behold three Men, Said one, who can make a Revolution when they please. There, Said another are the three genuine Pivots of the Revolution. The first of these Observations is not I hope, so true as I fear the last is. of all the Pictures that ever were or ever will be taken this ought to be done with the greatest Care, and preserved in the best Place. But H.’s Creatures will cast a Damper upon that.
        The Presidents Behaviour was in Character, and consequently charming to all. I write no Particulars, because the News papers will give you the details.— His Reception has been cordial and Splendid. His Journey will do much public good.
        I Shall return, in the first Week in December, if not sooner, and bring Thomas with me.— You must be very prudent and cautious, of my Letters. Let them be seen by none, but the Family: for altho I shall write no harm there are Chemists who are very skilful in extracting evil out of Good.— I have Seen the new Mrs Tufts, and admire the Drs Taste. She is in appearance, a fine Woman.


Title: Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 1-4 November 1789
From: Cranch, Mary Smith
To: Adams, Abigail

          Braintree November 1d 1789
          Dear Sister

        The dull weather of Last week has prevented sister Shaw from making her visit or she would have been here mourning with me the absence of our dear sister. I hope she will be here on Teusday if she is not I fear she will not come this fall— She has already put it of too long—the fine weather is all over. Doctor Tufts has taken the advantage of it & brought home his wife as snug as can be— Mrs Quincy & Miss Nancy are going with us to make the wedding Visit this week. Mr Wibird is too unwell to preach to day has got I suppose the Washington cold— every body who was at the parade the Day the President enter’d Boston took a cold. People stood at the windows some of them Six hours, waiting for his arrival— Having got a good situation they were affraid to leave it least they should not be able to recover it again; The day was dreadful raw & uncomfortable Lucy & Miss Hazen are gone to weymouth to meeting & to see the Bride. Lucy has not yet seen her aunt but both of them have such colds they were not fit to go out— Here is your son Tom confin’d with it he has been threaten’d with the Rhumatism but I hope he will not be bad—
        Mr Adams was here last evening & was well, I wish’d him to stay here but he was so busy picking out Books to send by Barnard that he could not. When Mr Brisler leaves him he will come— I am sorry too hear that cousin Louisia & the little Boy did not take the Small Pox it is a pity to have so much anxiety for nothing: but I hope the will do well yet
        I have seen Ruth Ludden she says she shall not be eighteen till next fall— she will then come if you are not supply’d Mrs Feild is spining your thread
        What is become of Betsy Crosby Miss Soper desir’d me to ask you to give me the true situation She is in if you had seen or known any thing of her
        The dull circle in which I move furnishes me with so little to intertain you with—that I find it difficult sometimes to muster up matter for a Letter—
        Mr Brisler has felt a little diffident about returning without your further orders— he hopes he has not do[ne] wrong— I assur’d him you would be glad to recc[ommend] him if he was convinc’d that he could not do so [well?] in any other way

        I hope I shall receive a Letter from you before I close this. if I should I may add more than that.
        I am with Love to all my Freinds your / affectionate Sister
        Mary Cranch
        Mr Cranch desires his Love may be presented
        Novb. 4th
        no Letters from you— We are all indisposed with colds but nobody quite sick— old mrs Thayer is here upon her mendicant visit She is in her ninety second year & can walk a mile or two yet. & has knit 5 pair of stockings with in five weeks three pair of which were for men!


Title: Abigail Adams to John Adams, 3 November 1789
From: Adams, Abigail
To: Adams, John

          Newyork Novbr 3. 1789
          my dearest Friend

        I did not write to you by the last post. I was in hopes to have received a Letter from your and to have known from under your own Hand how your Health was. Tommy wrote me by your direction; and I heard by other Hands of your safe arrival and the News papers inform us that by desire of his Honour the Leiut Govenour you was in the procession to accompany the President to his Residence. there is a vile mischevious junto in Boston, but I shall lose the whole chain. the Printers have not sent on the papers Sinc you left here; pray order them continued. But now with regard to our own affairs Brisler sends me word that he proposes to return & bring on his Family, & I have engaged two Rooms for him in the House at the End of our Land, adjoing to the corn Feild which will be very near and convenient for him. I am not at all satisfied with the Hand I have with me and with Regard to the coachman, you will not confide in him further than you can see, him Brisler will tell you that with Liquors he cannot be trusted. I mention this least Brisler should be obliged to come away before you. the Porter which is in the cellar you will either have sent on, or dispose of as it will freeze, the red wine & any other you chuse you will direct Brisler to put on Board Barnard, 200 weight of cheese & all the Butter which can be procured. I hope you will conclude to return sooner than you talkd of. the Trunk of cloaths which you had sent by Barnard you can leave without any inconvenience till Spring.
        we have no News here except the expected return of the commissoners from Georgia who it seems have been very unsuccessfull, & concequently must expect many unfavourable reports with respect to them, some of which are already in circulation; the district court meet this day the Marshal is qualified and attends. the Rank & presidence was yesterday setled & the Marshal is to take Rank of the district Attorney.
        our little John has had the small pox finely & is quite recoverd of it Louissa is innoculated from him— pray present my duty to your good mother Love affection where due. congratulation to our New married Friends, for me, and accept the affectionat Regard / of Your
         A Adams
        Suppose the horse cart Horse sled & one sadle which the dr has in his care & the Saw should be put on Board Barnard we shall find them very usefull


Title: Martha Washington to Abigail Adams, 4 November 1789
From: Washington, Martha
To: Adams, Abigail

          Wednesday Morn 4 November [1789]
          My dear Madam

        I should have been very happy to have seen you yesterday.— and am truly sorry the bad day disapointd me of the plasure, your servant brought you kind favor yesterday while I was at dinner. he could not stay and the evening was so bad,— I have the plasure to ask you, how your self Mrs Smith Miss Smith and the little ones are to day, I intended yesterday after the sermon to bring the children out with me on a visit to you, but the weather prevented me—
        I will my dear Madam—doe myself the pleasure to dine with you on satterday with my famly and shall be very happy with Geneal Knox—and the Laides,—mentioned or any others you plase
        I am dear Madam with esteem your / affectionate Friend / and Hble Sr

        M Washington

            Our best wishes to Mrs Smith &ca


Title: Abigail Adams to John Adams, 10 November 1789
From: Adams, Abigail
To: Adams, John

          Novbr 10th 1789
          my dearest Friend

        Tis more than a month since you left Home, and except the few lines from Fairfield, I have not received a single Letter from you. I have written to you every week, and should have been very happy to have learnt from your own Hand that you was benefitted by your journey and that you was conveniently accommodated. I get only one Boston paper, so that I am in the dark with regard to the politicks of massa, save what is retaild here
        mr Jay received Letters from mr Jefferson yesterday dated 5 August. he had not then received his Letters of recall. he writes very cautious with regard to the state of France, says that the disturbances had subsided in a great measure
        The marshal is gone to serve a writt this morning upon a captain of a vessel who has defrawded the customs. it is the first which has been issued & it runs in the Name of the People— he thinks that there is a difficulty arising with respect to the prisons. a marshal is obliged to give Bonds and committ his prisoner to the Jails of the state & into the custody of officers over whom the Federal court has no controul who will bear him harmless if the Prisoner excapes?
        The weather is remarkably fine I have got the chief of our winter wood, but at a most terible price the oak cost 32 6 pr cord, and walnut 50 it shall be the last time that I will be so taken in by dependance upon others. the Carman found he could not make money enough by getting it, and so would not stand to his agreement. if Barnard is not saild pray tell Brisler to Buy me 30 or 40 dozen of Eggs & put on Board. they have got them up to 1/6 pr dozen. Butter a shilling pr pound by the firkin. it really would have been worth while to have bought our vegetables in Boston, potatos particularly for they are at 3 shilling a Bushel by the Quantity Turnips at 1/6. malt is an other article, that I should have been glad to have had 6 Bushel of, but I fear I am too late for Barnard.
        we are all well. mrs washington and Family dined with me last saturday together with General & mrs Knox and mrs Green.
        Duty and Love where due pray write by the Next post to your ever / affectionate
        A Adams


Title: Abigail Adams to John Adams, 14 November 1789
From: Adams, Abigail
To: Adams, John

          Novbr 14 1789
          my Dearest Friend

        I received yours of Novbr 4. on thursday last. Brisler and his Family got here the same Day & are waiting the arrival of Barnard to go into their House. the President got home on fryday last, looks much fatigued with his jouney, and has beat out all his Horses. Brisler says the Roads are getting very bad, and that you will find it very tedious travelling in a few weeks pray take care that your little vehicle does not overset. I wrote you respecting Several articles which I supposed might come with Barnard, but my letters will be too late unless we venture them when he comes on again. Charls wants to have some cider sent, and I think half a dozen Barrels would not be amiss— I wish Brother would get me 20 or 30 dozen of Eggs put into Brand & send me when Barnard returns. we are all well cold excepted. I believe Louissa has the small pox. she has had Some symptoms, but no Eruption worth mentioning & not one that has fill’d. mrs Izard has lost her Baby with it. Richmond Hill has lost much of its Beauty Since you left us. the Trees are all stripd & look dreary but the prospect is Beautifull tho in Ruins.
        Remember me affectionatly to all inquiring Friends and believe me most tenderly / and affectionatly / your
        A Adams—


Title: John Adams to Abigail Adams, 14 November 1789
From: Adams, John
To: Adams, Abigail

          Braintree Saturday Nov. 14 1789
          My dearest Friend

        I am impatient to return but partly on Account of my Son who wishes to Stay at Colledge as long as he can, and partly, on Account of my Books and other Things which I wish to get ready before I go, to be sent to N. Y. I fear I shall not see you these three Weeks. I should however break away if I were not necessitated to wait for my horse, whose Lameness is not wholly cured.
        Excepting the Influenza which is universal our Relations and Friends are all very well.
        The Accident to my horse, has been a vexatious Thing and has deprived me of half the Pleasure and half the Exercise I intended.—This Horse I am told here got cast in the Same stable last year.
        My Farm I found as I expected—poor enough.
        I live with my Mother and Brother. and We live like Princes, in great Luxury.— You knew my Mother. She has the Influenza, severely: but is very active.
        The President is at Home eer now, no doubt.
        Mr Brisler is arrived I hope without any Accident with his Family. This will be some Relief to Us, as it will take off, much care from your mind. I wish I could send Boys and Girls from hence, to supply all the Places in the House that you want filled.
        There is a Calm a Silence and a Tranquility that is very remarkable in this Part of the Continent. May it be equal at the southward and long continue in both! i. e. may We be enabled to give Satisfaction to the Multitude of our Brethren


Title: Abigail Adams Smith to Elizabeth Cranch Norton, 15 November 1789
From: Smith, Abigail Adams
To: Norton, Elizabeth Cranch

          Richmond Hill Novr 15th 1789—

        almost twelve months have elapsed since the date of your last letter, I am conscious that this chasm in our Correspondence my Dear Eliza has been my own fault and very often have I reprimanded myself for my inattention—in not having noticed your last kind Letter,—but many casualties have intervened to prevent me from writing, which I hope will gain me your favourable indulgence for past ommisions when I promise future amendment,— perhas when your family has enlarged as much as mine you may be less surprized at my want of punctuallity, I have thought of you often since I had the pleasure of seeing you, and have frequently heard of your health with much pleasure
        I am again blessed with the society of my own family and I consider it as amongst the happiest Events of my Life; early after my Father arrived here, he requested with earnestness that we would take up our abode with him,— the affection which has ever dictated all his actions towards me, was too deeply impressed upon my heart to permit me to hesitate to Comply with a request which would in any degree accommodate himself and family;— we therefore accepted his profered kindness, and have resided with his family ever since;— my youngest Son has just recovered from the small Pox, & Louisa has had it very favourably and is now recovering—
        I Congratulate you upon the acquisition your family Circle has lately made—(in a small society the addition of one who is disposed to promote sociability; quallified to perform the Duties of friendship; and capable of contributing their part of those attentions which render Life valuable; and upon the agreeable performance of which, much of our happiness depends,) is almost inestimable, be pleased to present me respectfully to this new relation, and offer my Congratulations to the good Dr if you please upon his Marriage.
        I wish I could bring you acquainted with my friends—in this part of the World—that you would be pleased with them I am very sure—for they possess more of the qualifications essential in the Characters of amiable Women and agreeable Companions—and as few of the defects as any Ladies—I have been acquainted with; they are very different and yet variously pleasing— the grave and the gay are very happily blended in their minds which they have Cultivated,—and well furnished, their dispositions are lively, but tempered with judgment,—and they are well quallified, to fill the various Stations of Life,—with dignity;— their early expectations were very flattering; but they were soon Initiated into the School of adversity,— they have not sunk under the presure of misfortunes,—but have risen superior—to its influence,—and have quallifed their minds to their present situation, which tho not so affluent as they once had a right to expect, is, yet very eligable— by the ravages of War, their Habitation was utterly destroyed, and their Lands laid desolate;—
        I hope my Dear Cousin that you enjoy your health and preserve your spirits you must not permit them to be depressed, for I believe that in almost every Situation which our imaginations have pictured as dangerous and distressing the reality falls short of our expectations, I cannot wish you more favour than I have received, that you may enjoy an equal degree is my earnest desire—
        Colln Smith joins me in Compliments to Mr Norton, and all friends who may inquire after your / sincere well wisher, and friend—
        A Smith—


Title: Abigail Adams to John Quincy Adams, 22 November 1789
From: Adams, Abigail
To: Adams, John Quincy

          Newyork 22 Novbr 1789
          my dear son

        one would suppose that the waters between N york and Road Island had produced the same effect upon you, that the Poets feign of the River Lethe, not a Line, not a word from you since you quitted Richmond Hill. are you so wholy absorpd in the study of the Law of Nations as to forget those of Nature?
        I have been very sorry since you left us that your visit was made just at the period it was. a few untoward circumstances combined to render it less agreeable to you than it would have proved since. I should not have consented to your leaving us, if I had thought I should not have follow’d in a few days but the season of the year in which I must have returnd, & the arrangments I must have made to have tarried only two months quite discouraged me. at the next adjournment I hope to come on and pass several Months at Braintree.
        Since I saw you, you have had an illusterous visiter. I hope you was one of the Choir who so aptly Serenaded him, with “the Hero comes.” he was much gratified with the attention shewn him: I have it from his own Mouth. is it in Humane Nature to be otherways? he ought to be immortal, for who can ever fill his place— I ought to inform you that the day after you left us, you had an invitation to dine there. we live in a most friendly intercourse, & madam makes very few visits but those of ceremony when she does not request my Ladyship to accompany her and I have several appointments of that kind now on Hand Let not the Busy fiend envy propogate reports so basely false as that there is any coldness Subsisting between the Families— Massachusetts alone could be guilty of such baseness. I hope the presence of the Late visiter has banishd antifederialism

        I hope you have visited your Father since the misfortune of his Horse has prevented him from the excursion he intended.
        Your Friends here desire to be rememberd to you and chide you for not writing. believe me most affectionatly / your &c
        Abigail Adams


Title: Abigail Adams to Cotton Tufts, 22 November 1789
From: Adams, Abigail
To: Tufts, Cotton

          Newyork Novbr 22 1789
          My dear sir

        I congratulate you and the Lady to whom you are united upon your Nuptials, and most sincerely wish you a renewall of all your former happiness, with corresponding dispositions, and inclinations. the domestick circle is alone capable of yealding satisfactions, which an intercourse with the word and all its amusements never can afford. in Buisness or in pleasure the participation of a dear Friend, makes more than half the enjoyment. there is a period of Life too, when neither buisness or pleasure can be persued with the ardour of Youth. then it is that we feel more sensibly the want of domestick tranquility and retirement. may your declining years my dear sir be as repleat with happiness as the visisitudes of Humane Life will permit, and when this transitory scene ends, may you meet the Reward of a good and Faithfull Servant
        I wrote to you by my son sine which I have not heard from you. I have now to request you to procure for me 400 wt of Butter and to send it by Barnard. I have been dissapointed here, and it is so scarce and dear that I am sure I cannot now procure it. Barnard has orders to bring several hundred firkins, & I wish you to secure mine as soon as you receive this Letter, I also wish to have a Barrel of Beaf put up by Baldwin & a couple of dozen of Hams. mr W Smith will tell you who I mean if you are at any loss. there is also a sley to be sold for 8 dollors by packard who Lives with mr Black Mears has an other with harness for 11. I will thank you to see them both & to Buy one or the other & send by Barnard I must give ten pounds currency for one here, and we must have one, for to go to market in winter, living two miles from it, and never being able to Buy at our door the marketting all being carried into the city by water. if you will be so good as to procure these things and send me the Bill by Barnard with an order for him to receive the money I will pay it to him the Horse cart & sled if not sold will amply repay us if we can get it here, as we cannot get a carman to come out of Town to bring any thing under four shillings.
        Barnard is to sail this Day & will tarry not more than ten days after he arrives if he should be full the sley will be of more importance to us this winter than the cart. if one must be left I wish it may be that. the fruit which I have received this year was gatherd a month too soon, badly packd and is half ruind but, as I expected nothing better I am not so much dissapointed—
        I hope I may be able to come home at the next adjournment of congress—
        Present me affectionatly to my New Aunt to your son daughter and Neice to mr & mrs Norten and believe me my dear sir most affectionatly / your Neice
        A Adams


Title: John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 5 December 1789
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Adams, Abigail

          Newbury-Port December 5th: 1789.

        No, my dear Madam, I have not tasted of the waters of Lethe, nor have the Laws of Nature, been obliterated from my heart, by too close an attention to those of Nations. The reasons which have hitherto prevented me from writing since I left you, are various; but would not be very interesting in the detail, for which reason I shall, omit the unnecessary tediousness of a justification, and offer you a reparation instead of an apology.
        I flattered myself long with the expectation of seeing my father in this Town; and until your Letter arrived, but two days ago; I never knew that his Horse had met with a misfortune; I am still ignorant of its nature; and did not abandon the hopes of seeing him, untill I was informed he had been gone a week on his return to New-York. My friends in this quarter are not even so liberal in their communications as I am to you; my brothers both seem to make it a point to receive my letters with silent pleasure; and upon enquiring at thanksgiving time how Tom did, of one of his classmates; he answered that he then supposed him to be in New-York.
        Two and twenty hours after I left you at Richmond-Hill, I landed at Newport, and the Thursday following arrived in Boston. I pass’d two or three days at Braintree; quite sick of what I then thought only a severe cold. I have since been induced to suppose it was the influenza. This disorder has since then been almost universal in this State; and I have been upbraided for singularity in enjoying good health, while all the world were more or less diseased. It has not however been fatal in any instance that has come to my knowledge in this neighbourhood.— When I say I have enjoyed good health, it must be understood as they say, with a grain of salt. The ancient quarrel between the powers of drowsiness and me has threatened to break out again; and a few nervous twitches have hinted to me the propriety of suffering no intermission in the article of exercise. I have scarcely been out of Newbury-Port, since my return from New-York; but I intend next week to spend a day or two at Haverhill. I was not one of the choir who welcomed the President to New-Englands shore, upon his arrival here by land. I was however in the procession, which was formed here to receive him, in humble imitation of the Capital. And when he left us, I was one of the respectable citizens (as our news-papers term them) who escorted him on horse-back to the lines of New-Hampshire.
        You, my dear madam, have abundant reason to know that your eldest son is not by any means destitute of that bubbling Passion called Vanity; and therefore you will excuse him, and allow a little parental indulgence, when he informs you of the petty honours which accrued to him in consequence of this same visit of the President; and you will make all the necessary allowances if he states facts, which are really true, in such a manner as shall exhibit him in the most advantageous light—and thus I begin.
        I had the honour of paying my respects to the President, upon his arrival in this town, and he did me the honour to recollect that he had seen me a short time before, at New-York. I had the honour of spending part of the evening in his presence at Mr: Jackson’s. I had the honour of breakfasting in the same room with him, the next morning at Mr: Dalton’s. I had the honour of writing the billet which the major general of the County, sent him to inform him of the military arrangements he had made for his reception. And I had the honour of draughting an address, which with many alterations and additions (commonly called amendments) was presented to him by the Town of Newbury-Port. So you see

          “I bear my blushing honours thick upon me.”

        But as half the truth is often times a great falsehood I am constrained to account for these distinctions, in a manner, which I must honestly confess, defalcates considerably from the quantum of my importance. To the peculiar civility of Mr: Jackson and Mr: Dalton, I am indebted for having been thus admitted into the Company of the President. One of the major general’s aid de camps, is my fellow student; he was then much hurried, with other business relating to the same occasion; and at his request I wrote the billet. Mr: Parsons was chosen by the Town to draught the address; and his indolence, was accommodated in shifting a part of the burthen upon his clerk: so that all my dignities have not been sufficient to elevate me above the insignificant station of a school-boy; in which character I still remain, your dutiful Son. But to turn from trifling, to a subject to me very serious, I must observe, that my own reflections upon the subject of the place of my future residence, are daily becoming more and more perplexing. You well know the objections which I have against Braintree, and I may safely appeal to your Judgment for their validity. my father’s determined predilection, is the only circumstance that could give that place any claim to fixing me, under the present relative situation of my cousin Cranch and me.— Boston is strongly recommended to me by several of my friends, whose opinions in favour of the capital, are much more favourable than my own. Greater necessary expence, more necessary dissipation; and a more numerous competition for the favours of employment, are not circumstances, calculated to decide my preference. This town, while inhabited by the two most eminent barristers in the County, and an attorney, who though young is much respected, does not offer me a prospect in any manner alluring; though I should here enjoy the advantage of being more extensively known, than in any other part of the Commonwealth.— However I will postpone the full discussion of this matter till the appointment of our two Judges shall take place; after which I shall state my case fully to my father, and found my determination, upon his final opinion.
        I shall certainly write before long to my Sister; whose absence during so great a part of the Time, that I spent with you, is still a subject of much regret to me. My affection for her, and for all my friends at Richmond-Hill, I trust is not of that kind, which is weakened by absence; and I hope they will all do me the justice to believe that my sins of omission, are not the result of insensibility. My Father and Coll: Smith, will please to accept of my dutiful and affectionate remembrance. Louisa will accept an apology, for what she has before this probably forgotten: that in the hurry with which I left Richmond-Hill, I forgot even to take my leave of her. Charles and Tom, I hope will devote a few leisure moments to fraternal correspondence; to which they may depend upon receiving punctual returns. William has doubtless forgotten his uncle Jack; who wishes very much to have a little more fun with him. John I suppose from your not mentioning him in your Letter has got well through the small-pox.— Your affectionate Son.
        J. Q. Adams.


Title: Cotton Tufts to Abigail Adams, 20 December 1789
From: Tufts, Cotton
To: Adams, Abigail

          Boston Decr. 20 1789
          Dear Cousin

        Yours of the 22d. I recd. on Sunday last, by Gen Lincoln— the several Articles You requested me to procure I shall collect as soon as possible— I have made Enquiry for Butter but have not met with any that is good a considerable Quantity has been sent to New York by a Vessel that saild a day or two past— It is somewhat doubtful whether I shall be able to buy the Hams already prepared, if not shall engage them so as to send them in Season for Your use— Barnard is expected every moment
        It was hinted to me by a Friend, that Governor. H——k considered himself as somewhat neglected by Mr. Adams; having invited Mr. A—— to dine with him (at a Time when He invited the President—) Mr. A. accepted the Invitation, but did not attend—& tho Mr. H. saw him afterwards, He made no Excuse nor did He send any Billet of Excuse—& it was further added that Mr. A. did not call on Him when He left the State— I have just mentiond this—not that I suppose it a Matter of the highest Consequence—but imagine that it must be a matter which if explaind, would remove all Suspicion, as well an Imputation of Neglect— I shall write further a few Days hence, have now only Time to say that I am with great Sincerity Yr. affect Friend

        Cotton Tufts
         Beg the Favour of You to forward the Letter to Mrs. Rutgers—who is the Executr. of Dr. Crosbys Will—


Title: Abigail Adams Smith to John Quincy Adams, 27 December 1789
From: Smith, Abigail Adams
To: Adams, John Quincy

          Richmond Hill December 27th 1789—

        I have lived long in expectation of the pleasure of receiving a letter from my Dear Brother but at length I am reduced to despair; and am led to inquire what has prevented the fullfillment of a promise which you made at your departure upon my requesting you to write;— I hope you did not suppose that my absence during your visit arrose from any inattention towards yourself;— most certainly if I had had the least Idea of your leaving us so soon I should not have taken that time for my visit, it has been a scource of Chagrine to me eversince
        Mamma received a letter from you last week which is the first line that any one of this family have received from you since you left us; we heard of your safe arrival through my Aunt Cranch, and we have since heard of you both from the President and Mr Dalton.

        upon the receipt of your Letter your Father said that he had Conversed with Mr Dana when he was at Cambridge upon the subject of your setting down in Boston, and that Mr D—— had advised to it, that he himself had Considered the subject and that he had no objection to your going to Boston, Mamma desired that he would write to you upon the subject and I suppose he will ere long,—but as it was a subject in which I knew you were much interested I thought I would mention it; as the earliest information is sometimes of some importance—, I am happy that your wishes upon this subject are answered, as I should think it a preferable situation, for Business to any Country Town, some might offer as an objection the Number who are pursueing the same objects, but a young Man of your abilities persevereance and industry need not fear of being placed in the Back Ground; most sincerely do I wish you success in your undertakeings; and pursuits, both Honourable, and profitable;— Charles is very attentive to his Office—and begins to like New York—, Thomas has been with us some time, but thinks he prefers Cambridge to New York,— as to News I donot hear of any except a Confirmation of the Account that North Carolina has adopted the Constitution, the Members of the Government are assembling daily and tomorrow night is the day they are to meet,
        it is reported that Miss Thomson Mrs Gerrys Sister is soon to be Married to Mr Coles one of the Virginia representatives—a Widower with two Chrildren— Mr Jefferson has arrived in Virginia but not yet come to New York,— I suppose you have heard of the arrival of Mr Trumble, he has come to take a Number of portraits which may enable him to pursue his American peices but intends returning soon to England,— this is not the Country for him to paint for emolument, and we must acquire taste before his merits can be fully known
        I hope I shall have the pleasure of receiving some testimony of your remembrance soon— if you have one favourite do not let that one Possess the whole of your Social Affection it will not diminish for one object by being extend to others— the President told Mamma that he was informed that her Son was more attentive to his Books than to the Ladies, perhaps you may think it the greatest Compliment that could have been paid you but I hope you will not rank inattention to your friends amongst the first of your good quallities

        Colln Smith desires to be remembered to you and William sends his Duty—
        remember me to those who / inquire after your Sister
        A Smith—


Title: Abigail Adams to Cotton Tufts, after 8 January 1790
From: Adams, Abigail
To: Tufts, Cotton

my dear sir
[post 8 January 1790]
I have to acknowledge two kind Letters from you which I should sooner have replied to, but the post office would make me pay more than I thought my Letters would be worth. the Members of both Houses have been more punctual in meeting this year than they were the last, & the third day they made a House. you will see, & I doubt not be pleased with the Presidents Speach. great National objects will come before the two Houses, perhaps none of greater magnitude than the National Debt. I hope to see an adoption of all the state debts, and ways and means devised to pay them but whether there will be sufficient courage in the Legislature to take so desicive a step, must be left to time to devellope but it is one of the main pillars upon which the duration of the Government rests. the Bill you drew was immediatly Honourd, the inaccuracy was discoverd, but it did not injure the validity of it. I received all the things you mention by Barnard. Butter is sold here at a shilling York currency by the Quantity, if it should be sold again at six pence with you I wish you to send me two more firkins, and Hams I would not fail to have a dozen engaged for me, or a dozen & half we cannot get such pork or Hams here as massachusetts affords. Barnard talks of comeing again this winter, but if he should not, he will be out early in the Spring. we have had an uncommon pleasent Season, mild as may, but I fear not so Healthy as Severer weather would be
in one of Your Letters you mentiond that the G——r was a little hurt that mr A did not call to take leave of him. when he first arrived he went to see him, but indisposition prevented the G——r from receiving him. after this he received a message from the G——r requesting him to dine with him when ever the President did. you know how that matter was conducted, and that mr Adams was with the President, when the G——r sent his excuse for not waiting upon the President, and received for answer, that if he was too much indisposed to come out, he certainly was unfitt to receive company, and therefore he must decline dinning with him, upon which mr A. to the President observed that as his invitation was conditional he presumed he was excused and accordingly dinned with the President at his Apartments. the Gr conduct was Such as to belittle him, to use the expression of a Great Man; in the Eyes of every person not totally blinded to his foibles. inclosed is the late speach—
The accounts you mention you may charge if you please; Brislers I wish you to forward that I may know how to Settle it with him.
All Friends here desire to be affectionatly rememberd to you, particularly your / affectionate Neice
A Adams


Title: Abigail Adams to Cotton Tufts, 17 January 1790
From: Adams, Abigail
To: Tufts, Cotton

Dear Sir:
New York, Jan’ry 17, 1790.
I think our dear state makes full use of the liberty of the press, but they who write for the benefit of mankind whether learned or unlearned will always find more utility in reasoning than writing; I am led to these observations by several pieces, some in Edes paper, that fountain of Sedition, and a piece in Adams paper signed “a New England man.” This same writer and many others will find their hands full, whenever the systems and plans of the Secretary of the Treasury come before them. Many copies are ordered to be printed. They are not yet published, but are spoken of by many members of the House, as a performance which does much honour to the abilities of the Secretary. The two Houses are going on upon business and are now pretty full. The House condescended to go in a body to the President with their answer to his speech, tho’ many of them warmly opposed it, yet as the Senate, with their president at their Head, had done it, they did not know how very well to get over it. But the Senate all rode, & how should they look on foot with a rabble after them splashing through the mud, & this objection was obviated, by a member proposing that the Hackney men should be sent, to supply those with carriages, who had not them of their own.
“Then it looks so monarchial,” to go to the president, that they had best send a committee first to know when & where he would receive their answer, this was done, and the president returned for answer, that as the Senate had come to him, he could not think proper to make a distinction, besides it was the usage & custom of particular states to send answers to speeches made them by their Governours, & he would not wish to make innovations, and this polite answer being reported, a member moved that as the president had been so very delicate upon the subject, he would not any longer oppose the House going, so the Mountain went to Mahomet, and in style too.
Their Sergeant at Arms preceeded the carriage of the Speaker, bearing his maise before on horse back & carriages followed. Thus this mighty business was accomplished. Pray do not tell anybody from whence you get this story, I dare say it will not be entered upon the journals.

The Ancient Ballad & the Hartford News Boys New Years Address should be bound up together, let those feel the rod who deserve it. Mac Fingal has not yet lost his talent at satire.
I suppose Boston is not behind hand with New York in speculation. I have thought whether it would not be best to sell the indents & purchase certificates. I suppose they have risen with you, they are seven & six pence here, indents I mean. The little matter you have belonging to me I wish you to dispose of as you would of your own property to the best advantage by changing or selling according to your judgment. The small pitance distributed to the widows is but a mite, my Heart is much larger than my purse and I think I should experience a great pleasure and satisfaction if I could make the Fatherless and widows heart sing for joy. I wish you to order Pratt to carry to Mrs. Palmer a couple of loads of wood, it will be necessary to have fires in all the chimneys in the course of the winter and I wish to give her two cords of wood in that way, for several reasons, and you will order it done in the manner you think best.
My best regards to Mrs. Tufts, to all other friends, will you be so good as to give Mrs. Hunt a dollar on my account.
Sir your very / Affectionate Niece
Abigail Adams


Title: Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 24 January 1790
From: Adams, Abigail
To: Cranch, Mary Smith

my dear sister
Richmond Hill Janry 24 1789 [1790]
I embrace this opportunity By my Brother to write you a few lines tho it is only to tell you what you would have learnt from him, Namely that we are all well. he is come in persuit of Betsy Crosby. how well the child might have been provided for if the dr had lived, I cannot pretend to say, but two thirds of her property is already consumed, every minutia being charged to her as the account will shew, however this is no concern of mine. I am not without hopes my dear [Sis]ter of comeing to Braintree and spending several months [wit]h you during the next recess of congress. how long they [wil]l set this Session I cannot pretend to say, but rather think they will rise early in the Spring. I think it would be a plasure to me to have a small Family, and be able when I returnd to visit my Friends a little more than I have done. I never rode so little as I have done Since I resided here there are no pleasent rides no, variety of Scenes round Newyork, unless you cross ferrys over to long Island or to the Jerseys. I have however enjoyd a greater share of Health than I have for some years past & been less afflicted with the Complaint which used to allarm as well as distress me
How is my Neice mrs Norten? give my Love to her & tell her I hope to find her with a fine Girl in her Arms when I return to Braintree. tell Lucy she is quite as usefull as if she was married. I want to see her much as well as the rest of my dear Fiends, to many of them I owe Letters, but I really hate to touch a pen. I am ashamed to Say how laizy I am grown in that respect
I could give an account of visiting and receiving visits, but in that there is so little variety that one Letter only might contain the whole History. for Instance on Monday Evenings Mrs Adams Receives company, that is her Rooms are lighted, & put in order Servants &c Gentlemen and Ladies, as many as inclination curiosity or Fashion tempts come out to make their Bow & curtzy take coffe & Tea chat an half hour, or longer, and then return to Town again on twesday the same Ceremony is performd at Lady Temples on wednesday at mrs Knoxs on Thursdays at mrs Jays and on Fryday at mrs Washingtons, So that if any person has so little to employ themselves in as to want an amusement, five Evenings in a week, they may find it at one or other of these places. to Mrs Washingtons I usually go as often as once a fortnight, and to the others occasionally.
So I learn that my Young Friend Nancy is seariously thinking of becomeing the Madam of a Parish be sure to tell her, that I like it much as it will be so fine a half way House to call at when I go & come From N york to Braintree, but laying Selfish considerations aside I hope she is like to be setled to the mind of herself & Family.
my best Regards to mrs Quincy and all other Friends.
Brother says You wrote to me by mrs Cushing. she is not yet arrived— adieu yours most tenderly
A Adams


Title: Abigail Adams to Hannah Quincy Lincoln Storer, 29 January 1790
From: Adams, Abigail
To: Storer, Hannah Quincy Lincoln

my dear Friend
Jan’ry 29 1790 Richmond Hill
By my son who Sets out in the morning on his return to Boston, I write to thank you for your kind Letter of december, and for the present which accompanied it. the Butter was very fine, and much Superiour to any that I have been able to procure here. if I did not hear others complain of that article, I should be led to doubt my own judgment, and to suppose that I had brought my Yankee fancies with me. I know there are certain tastes, and Habits which we contract in early Life, which grow up with us, and lead us to think that they have no equal. a free intercourse with the world, and observation upon the Habits and customs of other states, Nations, & Kingdoms, tends in a great measure to wear of these local attachments, to enlarge our Ideas, and Liberalize our Sentiments, and teach us that the Bontifull Hand of Providence has Strewed comforts and Blessings within the reach of all his creatures, and that it is civilisation cultivation and improvement which enhances their value to us.
You ask my opinion of Nancys match? that she shoud marry a Clergyman I do not think strange, her most worthy Grandmamma did so, they are certainly a most respectable order of Men with us, Men of Learning of Religion, and in general of Liberality. from my own personal knowledge and acquaintance with a large Number of those Gentleman, I do not believe that in either of the 12 other states can be selected an equal Number of So respectable for their ingenuity and abilities, their Gentlemanly deportment and manners as our State furnishes. Yet very few of those Gentlemen think themselves qualified to open the Bible and give you a discourse of half an hour or more, without having previously studied their discourse, & committed it to writing. if the Clergymen here study, it is too deeply for me. I cannot comprehend or believe all their doctrines. they are worthy Good Men, but deciples of good old Calvin, and will Scarcly allow Man to be a free Agent. having said no more than what I think really true with respect to the Clergy I have only to add, that I hope my Friend Nancy will find herself very happy with the Gentleman She has chosen a Clergyman is more like to be a domestick man, than either of the other Learned Professions. Nancy is domestick and will make a very pretty Madam of a Parish.
Pray my good Lady get some of your acquaintance to move in the Legislature to have a Bedlam Erected; there is a member belonging to it, who gives such proof of Insanity that he certainly ought not to go at large. his imagination paints Giants, and he appears in all the Horrors of a man fit for war treason and Rebelion what astonishes me is, that he has Supporters.
I think it probable that congress will rise early in the spring, if so I promise myself the pleasure of visiting my Friends, to whom I must request you to present my Regards, particularly to Mary I wish this had been the winter instead of the last, that She had visited Newyork. I saw George to day, & would have had him dined with me, but he was engaged. my Love to the little Family. present me respectfully to your Worthy Partner & to your Mamma. tell Mrs Guile there is a Lady in Newyork to whom I felt a partiality on my first seeing her, merely because she reminded me of her, and upon a further acquaintance I esteemed her upon her own account, tho the similarity always gives her an additional Weight.
I can scarcly describe to you my feelings the other Day upon receiving a Letter from my dear old Friend Hannah Green, the Friend of my earliest Years, the companion of my juvenile days. I read it, & laid it down to indulge a crowd of reflections which Instantly rushd into my mind. O thou star! was one of them, how has thy Beams been clowded and thy Glory obscured! yet hast thou shone through all the visisitudes of fortune. I have not written to her, but I do not mean to omit it. when I look Back my dear Friend upon those whose circumstances were formerly affluent and whose expectation were promising; and see them placed in a situation so much inferiour in point of wealth, at the same time, behold them submitting with a patient cheerfullness to the reverse of fortune, I admire that greatness of mind, and that resignation to the dispensations of Providence which shines so conspicuously in their Characters. To know how to be exalted and how to be abased; is a great attainment in the Christian Character—but my pen runs on strangly.
I will return your Box by Barnard. it was my intention before, but I was too late it is so dark that I can only see to add that I am both in darkness, and Light your sincere and / affectionate Friend
A Adams


Title: Abigail Adams Smith to Lucy Cranch, 31 January 1790
From: Smith, Abigail Adams
To: Cranch, Lucy

Richmond Hill Jany 31st 1790
I cannot omit so good an opportunity as now Presents to acknowledge the receipt of your kind letter of Nov. my Dear Lucy—, my Brother has made us a very agreeable visit and I hope when he returns he will give a favourable account of his friends;—and of New York. he has been danceing amongst the Ladies and has been much approved. but what will you think of their ideas of Beauty, when I tell you that he has also borne away the Palm upon this subject—against the fairer Part of the family—, we are very reluctant at parting with him— but as it is necessary we must Submit—
what a Beautifull Winter we have. the weather here has been very fine. for two months past with very few exceptions we have not had more than one inch of snow at a fall, which has not Continued for any time—and it is almost as mild as April—, but we cannot enjoy the present pleasure without some apprehension least the future should prove unfavourable— the farmers tremble for their Crops, least the spring should prove unfriendly to them, thus it is the past and the future oftentimes prevent us from enjoying the Present Blessings with a proper gratitude— it often surprises me to hear Persons of good judgent—regreting the Scences which they have passed—looking back to the pleasures they injoyed in situations in which I recollect to have known them imployed in anticipating the pleasures of those stations in which they are at present placed— there is a certain unsattisfying principle in our dispositions which deprives us of much Sattisfaction,— those who are Conscious of it and indeavour to Correct it have some chance to overcome it and to enjoy the greatest of all blessings a Contented mind—
Mrs Norton wrote me that you were to spend most of the Winter with her. perhaps this may find you employed in the gratefull office of Confering, pleasure upon others—which I am sure must be the Case in whatever situation it meets you—
our friend N—— Q.—I hear is soon to become Mrs Packard how do her friends approve of her settling at such a distance from them and how can she reconcile her mind to quit her Native Town to which She is so much attached;— I expect in the Common Course of Human events that Parson W–b–d—will soon drop off, and that some smart young Parson will be put into his Place who will present himself to my friend Lucy—and I hope he will prove worthy of her acceptance this will be very agreeable to all Parties;— you must Compleat the trio— be so good when you see Miss Quincy to present my regards to her— present me respectfully to Your Pappa & Mamma—and to all friends who may inquire after your / friend
A Smith—


Title: Abigail Adams Smith to Elizabeth Cranch Norton, 31 January 1790
From: Smith, Abigail Adams
To: Norton, Elizabeth Cranch

My Dear Cousin—
Richmond Hill Jany 31st 1790—
your letter of December 14th I had the pleasure to receive the last week. and by my Brother Thomas who leaves us tomorrow I have an opportunity to Convince you that I am determined to fullfill my late promises of future attention to my Cousin—, Thomas has made us a sociable visit, and we are very Sorry to part with him even now,— the necessity of his attending his Studies must reconcile us to it. I beleive he has been gratified with his visit although he does not appear to have received such a favourable prepossession for New York as to determine to return hither when he has finished his Studies at Colledge
we expect that Congress will adjourn in the spring—and Mamma intends if they do, to spend her summer at Braintree which will I am sure be a great addition to your Happiness, as well as all her other friends— it too frequently so happens that such events as deprives some of us of our greatest pleasure Contributes in an equal degree to the Happiness of others, Perhaps it is designed for some wise purposes— I am sure that I have no disposition to doubt upon this Head we are informed that your friend Nancy Quincy is soon to say Love Honour and obey you are I presume acquainted with the Gentleman, does her choice receive the sanction of your approbation!— She expressed a partiallity for the profession when I last saw her;— I know she is very deserving, and I hope she has found a Person of equal Merrit, and who will prove deserving of her;—
there is a great pleasure in renewing an acquaintance with an old friend after we have been seperated from each other by any intervening Circumstances, for any length of time. there is at present a great Collection of persons from all quarters in this City—and I sometimes meet with those whith whom I was formerly acquainted. Mrs Roggers whom we knew in London—Spends the winter here. she is an amiable Benevolent Woman, and we enjoy much pleasure from her society.— the manner of visitting here is not so well calculated to promote intimacies and sociability as in Boston, but when you are obliged to keep up an extensive visitting acquaintance—it may be done with less inconvenience here most of the Ladies whose Husbands are in Publick offices have their particular day on which they are at home to receive Company. at all other times they are at liberty to refuse themselvs if they choose, and they are obliged to keep up such an extensive acquaintance as would take up their whole time otherwise you may return a dozen of thease visits in an evening— it is not expected (if you find the family at home) that you will set more than a quarter of an Hour, and if you do not a Card answers every purpose— in this way you will readily suppose that one cannot form intimate acquaintances—but you are at liberty to make choice of such a Number as please you the most and with them you may Live less ceremoniously—, I have met with some very amiable and agreeable Women, in whose acquaintance I find much pleasure, and gratification— when we meet at any of thease Evening Parties we make a little circle amongst ourselvs—and can enjoy our own observations upon the Characters arround us—
there is a Lady here from Virginia who reminds me of our friend Mrs Russell—by a simularity of manners—which has prepossessed me much in her favour.
be so good as to Present my Compliments to Mr Norton, in which Mr. Smith joins me and be assured that I am very sincerely your friend
A Smith—


Title: John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 9 February 1790
From: Adams, John
To: Adams, John Quincy

My dear son
New York Feb. 9. 1790
I hope your Anxiety, about your Prospects of future Life, will not be indulged too far. If, after your Term with Mr Parsons expires your Judgment, Inclination and Advice of your Friends lead you to Boston, you shall have my full Consent and Approbation.
If you could contrive to get a Small Family into my House with whom you could reputably board: and could reserve the best Room and Chamber, for your office and Lodging Room, I should not be displeased with the Arrangement. an office you must have. enquire into this matter, and let me know upon what Terms you can board, and have an office.— Upon this Plan, you might make an Excursion sometimes to Braintree, and pursue your studies there, especially in the Heat of summer when the Air of Boston is unwholesome.
inclosed is a Copy of Mr Fitsimmons’s Motions Yesterday on the national Debt.
May the Blessing of God attend you my dear son. so wishes and prays your / Affectionate Father
John Adams


Title: Cotton Tufts to Abigail Adams, 10 February 1790
From: Tufts, Cotton
To: Adams, Abigail

Dear Madm
Boston Feby 10. 1789 [1790]
Our Genl Court is now in the Fourth Week of its Session; very little Business of Importance as yet finished The Leisure Season of the Year invites many of our good Folks to spin out the Session to a Length more favourable to their Purses than to the Interest of their Constituents. Much has been said of the Necessity of making Provision for restoring the public Credit, However no Tax or any other effectual Measure is as yet agreed upon— whether any Thing will be done to purpose before the Court rises is uncertain as many of the Members are of opinion that it will be best to wait the Decision of Congress on the Report of the Secretary of the Treasury—
The Cold has been severe for several Days— the Thermometer stood at. ○. this Morning— Sudden Deaths have ben frequent for a Week past— Mrs. Palmer was seized with a Paralisis on Friday Evening last & died the Night following—
Your Son Mr Thos. arrived in Boston last Saturday & is well— By a Letter from Mr Shaw I find Mrs. Shaw is well.
Mr Joy has offered the Land bought of S. Quincy at the Price He gave for it with the Interest from the Time of Purchase— his Memm. is enclosed for Your Consideration—
Be pleased to present my Affectionate Regards to Mr. Adams & Your Children—
I am with sincere Affection / Yours
Cotton Tufts


Title: John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 19 February 1790
From: Adams, John
To: Adams, John Quincy

My dear son
New York Feb. 19. 1790
There is a sett of Scotch Writers that I think deserve your Attention in a very high Degree. There are Speculations in Morals Politicks and Law that are more luminous, than any other I have read. The Elements of Criticism and other of Lord Kaims’s Writings—Historical Law Tracts—sir James Steuart—Adam Smith &c both his Theory of Moral Sentiments and his Wealth of Nations— There are several others whose Names and Titles I dont at present recollect.
Your Project of going to Boston, I think of, every day.— You may divide your time between Braintree and Boston to great Advantage, or reside constantly at Boston if your Business should require it. But my Son, You must expect an Interval of Leisure, and Ennui.
Whether those who ought to be my Friends will be yours or not, I cant say.— Whether they are mine or not is at least problematical in some Instances— Yet I think you will find Friends in Boston.
Write me as often as you can. I hope the contracted ignorant Prejudice against your Profession will not be pushed so far as to render you uncomfortable.—
Preserve my Son, at every Risque;—at every Loss;—even to extreme Poverty and obscurity; Your Honour and Integrity Your Generosity and Benevolence, your enlarged Views and liberal Philanthropy. Candour and Honour, are of more importance in your Profession even than Eloquence Learning or Genius. You will be miserable without them whatever might be your Success. The Family is well— Yours affectionatly
John Adams


Title: Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 20 February 1790
From: Adams, Abigail
To: Cranch, Mary Smith

My dear sister
Richmond Hill Febry 20 1790
I yesterday received a Letter from dr Tufts and an other from Thomas informing me of the death of Mrs Palmer. the good old Lady is gone to rest, happily for her I doubt not, but what will become of her daughters Heaven only knows, Polly in particular. I feel very unhappy for them, and you I am sure must be still more so. I suppose you was too heavily loaded with care, and affliction to write me by the last post. they may continue in the House untill we want it, if it would any way serve them, but I presume there cannot be any thing for their support after their Mothers discease. I am sure you cannot help looking back for 20 years and exclaming what a change! but such are the visisitudes of Life, and the Transitory fleeting state of all sublinary things; of all pride that which persons discover from Riches is the weakest. if we look over our acquaintance, how many do we find who were a few years ago in affluence, now reduced to real want but there is no Family amongst them all whose schemes have proved so visionary, and so abortive as the unhappy one we are now commisirating. better is a little with contentment than great Treasure; and trouble therewith. it would be some consolation to the Sisters if they had a Brother in whom they could take comfort. if ever convents are usefull, would be for persons thus circumstanced.
I did not write to you by Thomas as I thought he could give you every information you wish’d for respecting us. he writes that he got home well, but appears in Some anxiety about the Measles. I would not wish him to avoid them, but only to be watchfull when he takes them and to be particularly attentive to himself during the period. this care I know you will have of him, if he should get them, and if he does not take them, he will always have an anxiety upon his mind increasing too as he advances in Life, every time he is liable to be exposed to them.
From all the Debates in Congress upon the subject of a discrimination, I presume the vote will be that there shall be none, but that some one or other of the plans proposed by the Secretary of the Treasury will be adopted it is thought that tomorrow will be the desisive day with respect to the question, as the vote will be calld for. on this occasion I am going for the first Time to the House with mrs dalton mrs Jay & Mrs Cushing to hear the debate. if you read the papers you will find Some very judicious debates. mr Smith of S C who married a daughter of mr Izard, is one of the first from that state, & I might add from the Southern states. mr Ames from our state & mr Sedwick and mr Gerry are all right upon this Question & make a conspicuous figure in the debates. I hope some method will be adopted Speedily for the relief of those who have so long been the sufferers by the instability of Government. the next question I presume that will occupy Congress will be the Assumpition of the state debts and here I apprehend warm work, and much opposition, but I firmly believe it will terminate for the General Good.
What a disgrace upon the Legislature of our state that they should permit Such a Madman as Gardner to occupy their time, to vilify Characters to propogate grose falshoods to the world under their Sanction. I should feel more trust for them if I did not foresee that good would come out of it in time. if the Bar possess that Honour which I presume they Have, they will combine to defeat Gardner and his Abetters and establish such Rules & Regulations as will tend to restore their profession to the same Reputation which they held before the Revolution. you and I feel peculiarly interested in this matter as we have children rising into Life educated to the Law, without a competant knowledge of which no Man is fit for a Legislator or a statesman. let us look into our National Legislature, Scarcly a man there makes any figure in debate, who has not been Bred to the Law
pray give my Love to my worthy Brother Cranch & tell him that I sympathize with him in his affliction Remember me affectionatly to my Neices & Nephew and believe / that your happiness is very near the Heart / of your ever affectionat
A Adams


Title: Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 28 February 1790
From: Adams, Abigail
To: Cranch, Mary Smith

my dear sister
Newyork Feb’ry 28 1790
on the 17 of this Month cousin William wrote his uncle, that he had carried his cousin Tom Home to Braintree with the Symptoms of the Measles upon him; you will easily Suppose that I waited for the next post with great anxiety but how was I dissapointed last Evening when mr Adams returnd from Town, and the Roads being very bad the post had not arrived. I could not content myself without sending into Town again before I went to Bed, but the Servant returnd with two Newspapers only. I am the more anxious because I know that Thomas was not well during the whole time that [he] was with us. I gave him a puke, after which he appeard [bet]ter. he appeard to me to have lost his appetite his flesh and his coulour, & I am fearfull he was in a poor state to take the measles. I know that he will have every care & attention under your Roof that he could have, if I was with him and this is a great relief to my mind; but to hear that he was sick, and to be ten days in suspence, & how much longer I know not; has made me very unhappy. if you have occasion for wine as no doubt you will, pray send for the Key and get it; and let Pratt bring you wood.— The trouble you must necessarily be in upon the death of Mrs Palmer, and the distrest Situation of the Family, anxiety which I know you feel for Mrs Norten, and now the Sickness of Thomas I fear will prove too much for your Health. I wrote to you by the last post and to Thomas, but tis a long time since I had a Letter from you. I think the House had better be shut up than permitt any Body that I can think of, to go into it especially as I think it probable we shall spend a large part of the year there. I wish however that the dr might be consul[ted] with regard to the Safety of the House; pray write to me and relieve my mind as soon as possible.

I have never heard how Brother got home with his charge. is Polly married? I did not mention it to him while he was here, but mr A did. I knew it to be so much against his inclination that I thought it best to be silent. our Family are all well. mrs Cushing and mrs Rogers Spent the day with me yesterday. the judg and his Lady appear very happy, and well pleasd with their situation & reception at Newyork. I am very well pleasd to find that Gardner is returning to his former insignifica[nce] Strange that he should be attended to, or have any weight with sensible Men—
my Love to cousin Lucy whom with the rest of my Friends I long to see. Believe me dear sister most / affectionatly yours
A Adams


Title: Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 28 February 1790
From: Cranch, Mary Smith
To: Adams, Abigail

My dear Sister
Braintree February 28th 1790.
I know you Will rejoice to hear that cousin Tom has got comfortable through the Measles. He caught them at Cambridge the day he arriv’d from new york— He came here the Monday after & told me he thought he had them but return’d the next day—promising to return as soon as he felt the Symtoms The Monday following his cousin William brought him home in a close carriage but he did not break out till Wednesday. he was pretty sick but not very bad till they came out. He had Several faint turns before & sometimes felt as if he did not weigh a pound after they broke out— The rash came first but the measles soon follow’d thick enough, his cough was troublesome & his Fever pretty high but upon the whole I think he has had them light to what people in general have or to what you & I had. There are many People Who have them now extreamly bad & many have died with them— I have two in my Family still to have them Cornelius & Ben. Cornelius complains a little to day— I expect it will be out in a few days— cousin did not lay upon the bed an hour for them— He Sleep in the easy chair half his time— the greatest difficulty attending his disorder was there turning upon his Bowels— I was oblig’d to give him two or three portions of Rhubarb before I could carry it of— this circumstance has weakend him—but I do not design he shall return to college till he is quite well— He has been below Stairs these two days, but the weather has been so wet that he has not been out He has had a dull time in his confinment— Neither of his cousins were at home & his eyes were so affected that he could not read & unluckyly I had caught such a cold that I could only wisper great part of the time—
You may have heard of the sudden Death of Sister Palmer. She was seeiz’d with a Palsy—from being to all appearances well— she said “Betsy I am frighted my hand feels so numb.” She endeavour’d to say more but could not speak & did not appear to have the full use of her reason. I got there in about an hour after she was taken she then knew us all & seem’d senseble that she was going, by the mottion of her hand, she could only say yes & no—& that with difficulty one side was wholly dead. She was taken at sun set. She gap’d often & had all the appearence of a person very sleepy. She was carried up stairs in a chair & put to Bed after being Bleed & went to sleep as quietly as any body but it was never to awake again— She fell into a Lethargy & ceas’d to breathe about sundown the next day she had not a pain nor did she move a Limb or a feature of her Face after she went to sleep— The Loss is great indeed to her Daughters—but all the horrows of Death were taken away by such an easy dismisson & to so good a woman what a favour— Mr Cranch was much affected you may be sure— He is now the last of the Family & may heaven long preserve him— we had the corps brought to our House & the Funiral went out from it. She was plac’d in mr Alleynes Tomb.
Cousin Polly & Betsy behave with christian resignation but are greatly distress’d at the situation they find themselves in. Cousin Betsy can support herself in some way or other but her Sister cannot They are yet in your house & I suppos’d you had rather they should be athough they should not be able to pay you any thing than have it stand alone they take good care of it— Jo Cranch has been there these six weeks—& is only waiting to get into some business to be married. mr Cranch wrote a Letter to General Knox desiring him to give him some establishment in his profession as a Gunsmith if he could. He sent it by Mr Adams. I wish my dear Sister you would be so kind as to mention the thing where you think it will do the best The General knows him to be a capable honest man If he can get into any business he will take both my Cousins with him. you cannot Serve us more than by being able to froward him in this way— They have no where else to look but to us— I am very willing to do all I can for them, but to maintain them wholly is more than we can do & would be very painful to them There stores cannot hold out long & then they must come here—
Mrs Norton holds out yet & is very well for her. What you tell me of Mrs Smith I expected to hear My Love to her & her little ones— your Son John is in Boston attending the Court. I hear he is well but have not seen him. Mrs Hall has had a dreadfull eye but it is better Miss Polly Adams was married in her Fathers absence & looks quite stately— They are going to Boston to live he is an excellent Bootmaker & has the character of a very steady well behav’d man— but somehow or other it was not agreable to her Father— did he not tell you of it? cousin Tom did not know it till he return’d—
Mr Cranch is much worried with a salt [. . .] humour in his arms I sometimes think tis ring worms but let it be what it will— it causes him a great many little Blind Boils I have try’d many things but cannot cure it Cousin Tom Says you have a Tar ointment which you have used for Mr Adams


Title: Abigail Adams to Cotton Tufts, 7 March 1790
From: Adams, Abigail
To: Tufts, Cotton

Dear sir
Newyork March 7th 1790
I received your Letter inclosing mr joys proposals and I have omitted answering it because I wished mr Adams to determine himself. he says that he had already offerd mr joy what he gave, which he considerd quite as much as the place was worth, that it will not yeald him half the interest of the Money unless he was to live at home & be able to improve it, that mr Joys present proposal of the interest and commissions will not do, and I add that if mr Adams was to purchase it he must Sell a Bill at 8 pr ct discount to pay for it. indeed I do not know whether Bills upon Holland are not worse still I should like to have the land as it is so near us, & would accommodate us so well, but I cannot like joys conduct with respect to it. will you be so good as to write us word how Bills Sell in Boston. I am sorry to find your Legislature acting a part so derogatary to their Honour and interest, and so little agreeable to what I know your sentiment are. it must be painfull to you to see such a combination to destroy all order, & overthrow the constitution. the proposed amendments I Sincerly hope for the Honour of the State, will be successfully combatted. how can these people all of whom have solemly sworn to support the constitution, come forward with proposals which Strike a deadly blow at the vitals of it, but I trust they will be dissapointed mr M——n is not acting a much better part here, only a more artfull and coverd one. the more I see of Mankind, and of their views and designs, (the more Sick I am of publick Life) and the less worthy do they appear to me, and the less deserving of the Sacrifices which Honest men make to serve them. I think from what I can hear & see the Assumption of the State Debts much more uncertain than I conceived a week ago—but time must determine there are some person who think the stability of the General Government rests upon that one point.
my dear sir I am extreemly anxious about my son Thomas. tis near 3 weeks Since I heard he was carried to Braintree with the Symptoms of the Measles upon him, Since which I have not been able to get a single line from any Friend. the imagination is fruitfull in uncertainty, and I have sometimes been led to fear that he is very sick, and know not how to account for this long silence with respect to him. pray Sir upon the Receipt of this write me immediatly. we are all well and desire to be affectionatly Rememberd to you and yours
most affectionatly yours
A Adams


Title: Elizabeth Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams, 14 March 1790
From: Shaw, Elizabeth Smith
To: Adams, Abigail

My Dear Sister—
Haverhill March 14th. 1790
I have a Letter partly written to you which was begun sometime ago, but as a new Seene has presented itself to my view, I will lay that aside, & ask my Sister to rejoice with me in the recovery of my Children, & Family from the Meassels, & on the birth of a fine little Daughter which was born the 2d Day of March. She has little bones, & weighed nine pound— She is as plump as a partridge, quiet as a Lamb, & Mrs Seargant says, she has a mouth like you, but you know every one will flatter upon those occasions— We have named her Abigail Adams, in respect, & gratitude to a much loved Sister—& we hope she will not be offended that we have given her this name, endeared to me by a thousand kindnesses— It is true I cannot inspire her with like Sentiments, but if I could believe like Tristam Shandy, I might hope for great things— And I think if some good Angel would permit me, to look into futurity, & I could behold my Daughter like my Sister, virtuous, & good, adorning every Station she may be called to act in, with pleasure I could foster her in my Bosom, & watch over her infant Days with unspeakable delight— But whether our Children are to be Blessings, or Curses, is not for Parents to know— It is our part to discharge our duty with Circumspection, & Fidelity— Events, are at the disposal of unerring Wisdom—
Your Son Thomas was so kind as to intend making me a visit as soon as he returned, but was detained by the meassels— I long to see him— It was rather an unfortunate circumstance for me, that we had been expecting the meassels all winter, but did not take it till the last week in February, & I was obliged to leave two of them with it just upon the turn— Betsy Quincys never come out well, & I was distressed for her, as well as for myself— We could neither get her meassels out, nor keep it out well, & she had an incessant Cough, which I feared might leave her in a poor State— Not even the Kiss which she was honoured with, from the President of the united States, when he was in Haverhill, could secure her from Evils— He was almost deified, & perhaps no human Being, ever deserved it more— When Mr Shaw & I, were upon our Journey to Weymouth, the President unexpectedly went through Haverhill— Betsy Quincy, & another little Miss was so desirous of seeing this great, & good Man, that she rose 2 hours before Day, & went to Mr Harrods where he lodged, for fear she should not see him in the crowd— Her wish was anounced to him by his Secretary, & he was so sweetly condescending as to come down & take them both in his Lap, & kiss them, a Circumstance, I presume, they will never forget through the whole period of their Existence— I often mention it to Betsy Quincy, as an incentive to every thing that is praiseworthy—
I suppose by this time Mrs Norton must be a Mamma, I expected it, before I kept chamber myself—but I have been rather beforehand of her Ladyship, which nobody believed from our appearance—for when I wanted the assistance of my Neighbours—they hardly could be perswaded it was necessary, & thought they were Joked with— Mrs Smith I hear, is fullfilling, & complying with the first command with great alacrity— my Love to her, I wish her good speed—& hope she may prove a rich Blessing to the World— I have received two kind letters from her, but I have not strength at present to answer them—
Mr & Mrs Thaxter are well, she enjoys better health than ever— There Son is really a beautiful Child— He has been here to see his little sweetheart, as every-body has wisely predicted & I think I never saw a finer looking Child— you must remember I have never seen your two Grandsons—& alas! shall I ever be so happy as to ever, even see my Neice again— I was exceedingly dissappointed last Fall at not seeing you at Braintree, & my dear Brother Adams here— I have felt this winter as if I never should see you more, not because I was in poorer health, for I really have been better, than for several years past, but sometimes I could not help having the vapours—
Betsy Smith sends her Duty, & Love, with my Children, & Mr Shaw his best regards—but says I must not write one word than that I am your truly affectionate Sister
Eliza Shaw


Title: Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 15 March 1790
From: Adams, Abigail
To: Cranch, Mary Smith

my dear sister
March 15 1790 N-york
I last Evening received your Letter of 28th of Febry which relieved my mind from a great weight of anxiety. I do not think that I have been so long a period, without Letters from some, or other of my Friends Since I first came to Newyork, or elsse the anxiety I have been under for several weeks appeard to prolong the Time
I have written to you 3 weeks Successively but you do not mention having received my Letters. last week I wrote to the dr, and not to you; in some of my Letters I proposed the miss Palmers tarrying in the House as long as they could. I never expected any thing more from them, than a care of the House & furniture. I requested the dr to order them Some wood which I presume he has done. I will mention to Gen’ll Knox mr Cranchs request. mr Adams deliverd the Letter and talkd with the Gen’ll about him at the same time. the Genll mentiond him as a good workman & an honest Man. I will inquire of him when I see him if any thing can be done for Him— a Thought has just struck my mind. if we should not return to Braintree this summer, is mr Cranch Farmer enough to take that place to the Halves, provided he can do no better. I have not said any thing about it, for it this moment came into my mind. you may think upon it & give me your opinion without letting it go any further. nothing would give me more pleasure than to be able to assist two worthy people. I shall wish to hear from mrs Norten as soon as She gets to Bed. I think you told me that she expected this month and Sister Shaw too. it is really a foolish Buisness to begin after so many years, a Second crop. I expect to hear next that our good friend the dr is like to increase his Family mine is like to be very prolifick if mrs Smith continues as she has set out. she has been gone a week on a visit to Long Island. Louissa grows tall, is the same diffident modest Girll she always was. I am sending her now to dancing it is rather late for her to begin, but she learns the faster I believe. She has been only six weeks, & carried down a country dance in publick last week very well.
I hope my dear Sister you will make Thomas very carefull of himself & not let him go to cambridge till he gets well of his Cough. the march winds are cold and piercing, and the Measles never mends the constitution, the Lungs being so much affected. poor mr otis I am grieved for him. he told me to day on comeing out of meeting that he did not expected to hear that his daughter was alive; for his last intelligence was that she was very near her end. this is a distress that neither you or I have yet experienced, at least not an age when the loss is so very grevious, and Heavy, yet can I most feelingly sympathize with those who have. it appears to me that more young Ladies die of consumptions in Boston than in any other place. I cannot but think that there is some cause, arising from their manner of living the too sudden change of air, from cold to Heat, & heat to cold, or a want of proper attention to their cloathing I think it ought to be a subject of investigation by the medical Society— my affectionate Regards to all Friends do not let it be so long again before I hear from you. I thank you for all your kind care of my son during his sickness. you have some times talkd of obligations, but Sure I am you ought to be satisfied upon that Head, as you so much oftner have the power of confering them, than I have of returning them to you, but you know that the will is good of your ever affectionate / Sister
Abigail Adams


Title: Mary Palmer to Abigail Adams, 17th 21 March 1790
From: Palmer, Mary
To: Adams, Abigail

Dear Madam
Braintree March 17th 1790
The enclosed will need your utmost candour, but as I am not able to write it over again being Still in very low health & kept so long upon Sal Vol. & Lavender that the Smell & taste of both is hateful to me & the sight of a Phial disagreable, I hope you will excuse it. The very kind Letter that I reciev’d from you when you was in France to which I fear you never reciev’d any reply; emboldens me to write with the freedom of a friend.
We still remain in your House but are looking out for some humble Situation where we may gain an honest tho’ mean livelihood for ourselves, Integrity & independance will give a relish to every enjoyment & sweeten the coarsest food. Betsy & I wish not to be seperated, we were ever dear to each other, & affliction has been far from loosening the Cord. As yet we have not pitch’d upon a place, but hope to before your return.

I wrote to Dr Adams soon after he left us, but suppose the Letter was lost, it was only about a Book, Princes Chronology you will please to tell h[im] it is in the office.
Your Lark is in [good he]alth & very saucy & dainty, chooses the best of every thing [won]t eat Bread without Butter or Sugar or Meat but of the very nicest, his Seeds also must be very good & the water very clean, or he will Scold at the whole family [th]o he is not grateful enough to sing us a Song for our care of [him.]
Your Pussy is also very well & as cross as ever, & as good a [rat]catcher. but the Rats have lately left the House, so she has but little to do within doors.
Pardon Madam this triffling, when the heart is too full & afraid to vent its own feelings, it is apt to say something foolish.
I hope Betsy will be able to write to Mrs Smith, but as every thing lays upon her I fear she wont. but She as well as her Mamma may be assured of our wishes for their prosperity & affectionate respectful Love. Our Love to Louisa, we hope She will ever approve herself worthy of so excellent an Aunt
Mrs Briesler her sister & Children are entitled to a great share of our remembrance My love to them if you please.
I am Madam [you]r Affect friend & Servant
Mary Palmer.
What I meant to enclose, is rather out of Season now, I am a little better. M. Pratt has bro’t 2 Loads of Wood since Mammas death the office is safe tho’ not in good order as I wish it was, I flatter myself that you will not have any cause to blame your tenants for neglect of any kind. I dare not touch upon our loss. it has been Almost too great to bear. She was a living Saint, & her departure was happy & Sweetly tranquil without a Sigh or Struggle. She is now gone to enjoy that society which her constant piety & integrity seem’d to fit her for.
March 21st.
I broke open the Letter to inform you of what I fear’d might be in your eyes against us if not explain’d. the day Dr Adams went away from here, Suckey Adams came for a Hearth Brush which was in the office & was as good as new & soon after for a Cloathes Brush both which she said her Uncle had given her. & both were deliver’d to her. I am afraid we were too hasty in doing it.