John & Abigail Adams Correspondence

(The following letters were exchanged during the beginning of John Adams’ presidency)

Quincy Janry. 22. 1797

My Dearest Friend

I have not received a Line from you of a later date than the 3d Instant. The last week is the only one which has past since you left me, without Letters. I hope it is not oweing to any other cause than the difficulty of passing the North River. We have had this day something very like a snow storm. It has Bankd some tho not very deep. It is two Months tomorrow since you went away, and we have had only one part of a day in which any Rain has fallen, and intensely cold the greater part of the Time.

I have something to propose to you on the part of your Mother. I think the remainder of her days ought to be renderd comfortable and respectable, that she is not now in such a situation as she ought to be placed, taking into consideration the station you will soon be call'd to fill. There is now but one Grandaughter left. She has necessarily the whole Family care upon her which will prevent that constant care and attention which the Age and infirmities of your Mother require. She ought to have a lower Room and not be obliged to mount up stairs, at the risk of falling. Mears has in His House a Handsome Room which I would furnish for the Good Lady, and Mrs. Mears has no children and could attend alltogether to the care and necessary attention of her. If I should be calld away and Mears should agree to come and take care of this place we could easily remove her here. I should have proposed taking her here, but we have so little House Room and the company would be urksome to her, I think she would be

more agreably placed in a Room which she should consider as her own, and with Authority to call for every assistance she wants. She told me since the marriage of Nancy, that if I went away she should have nobody to take any care of her. I assured her that she might make herself easy for she should certainly be provided for to her comfort and satisfaction, and that I would not leave her untill she was. I was sure it was your desire, and that I had in my Mind such accommodations as would make her so. If you approve of this I will propose it to her, and engage Mrs. Mears to undertake the Charge, and I will see every thing done to make her Comfortable.

There is much talk with the merchants upon pettioning Congress to lay an Embargo. The piracys of the French are very provoking and insulting. We have very few arrivals. Young Beals got home last week, but was near being lost in comeing upon our coast. We appear to be quiet here. The Election of Mr. A. and Mr. J appearseems to have quieted for a Time the Spirit of Party. I have not had any further advises from our sons. Are there any publick Letters from them? I have read Peters Censor. He is a full Blooded English Man. I want to see him craking Pains Bones. That Wretch has however now written a Book which even the Jacobines will blush to advocate. I think he has done his buisness in this Country. There are more persons who will detest him for his abuse of Washington than for his infidelity.

Adieu my dear Friend, I will not ask when I may hope to see you, for if you cannot come to me,

I will to you in the Month of May.

I am my dearest Friend ever, ever Yours

A Adams.

Philadelphia January 31. 1797

My Dearest Friend

I have received yours of January 22d [Abigail to John, 22 January 1797] . I know not the reason you had not received Letters for a Week. There has not been a Week Since I arrived in Philadelphia that I have not written you twice or thrice.

I agree with you that Something must be done for my Mother to make her Condition comfortable and respectable. A Horse and Chaise must be at her Command and I like your other Plan very well if she approves it. But I believe She will never think of leaving my Brothers Family. If she should prefer Staying with him I will be at the Expence of the Wages and Board of a Maid or Woman to live in the House and be wholly under her Direction. If Mears will take our House, or if he does not, if Mrs. Mears will take the Care of her and she is willing to go to Mrs. Mears's, I shall be willing. But I think she will prefer scarce Provision for her at my Brothers. I shall leave it to you and her to digest and determine the Plan and any Expence for her Comfort and respectability I will chearfully defray.

There are no public Letters from our sons later than the latter part of September.

An Embargo, which you say the Merchants talk of petitioning for, would not perhaps answer the End. It would give a shock to Us which our People would impatiently bear and hurt the English so much more than the French, that perhaps they would persevere in their system as a Measure of Hostility against their Enemy.

If you come to me at all, the earlier in the spring the better: for We must go to Quincy for the hot Months. The Plague has got into this Country and I will not remain here, nor shall you during the Season of it. But my Dearest Friend We must consult oeconomy in every Thing. The Prices of Things are so extravagantly high that We shall be driven to Extremities to live in any decent style. I must hire and maintain secretaries as well as servants and the purchase of Horses, Carriage, Furniture and the Rent of a House 2666 Dollars & 2/3 a year will Streighten Us and put Us to all manner of shifts. I have a great Mind to dismiss all Levees, Drawing Rooms and Dinners at once. Dinners upon Washingtons Scale I will dismiss and only entertain a few select Friends. They shall have a Republican President in earnest.

A Committee of Senate have reported in favour of an Augmentation of salaries but

I dont expect it will pass the House if it does the Senate, and if it should what are 5000 Dollars. An Addition of Fifty thousand Dollars would not much more than restore the salary to its original Value, as Prices are tribled in most articles and doubled in all. In another Week or so The Point will be legally settled.

I fear you will not persuade Mears to take our House and I know not who else to think of.

Alass my Poor Country! Divided in herself, insulted by France, and very frequently by Englishmen even since the Govt. have assured an Appearance of Moderation. Witness the cruel tyrannical Treatment of Capt. Diamond at St. Eustatia.

The Faederalists themselves are divided and crumbling to Pieces.Allmost all the ablest and best Men are discouraged and many of them retiring. And this has been brought about by Tom Paine and prophesying Clergymen and French Finesse and Intrigue. But I must stop to assure You of my tenderest & and never failing Affection.

J.A.

Quincy March 12th 1797

My Dearest Friend

After a week of anxious expectation, I received by last Thursdays post, a packet containing three News papers, a pamphlet, two excellent Letters from our dear Sons, and fourteen lines from a hand, from which I was desirious of receiving, fourteen times as much. Unreasonable do you exclaim! Publick Buisness, publick cares, allow'd, but there is a kind of communication and intercourse which is a relieaf to the burdend mind, at least I conceive so.

I have read the address, the answer, and the reply. Upon reading the first period in the address, it struck me as obscure oweing to the length of the period. I read it a second time. The Sense was clear but some how, it did not Seem what I wanted to have it; I attempted to, throw the Ideas into an other form, but could not Succeed, without weakening the force of expression or greatly lengthing the address. I therefore concluded that you had labourd yourself under the same difficulty. I made no remark upon it, but in my own mind, Three persons have since mentiond to me, the same thing, and one of them told me that he had himself been trying to place the Ideas of the first period in shorter Sentances, but met with the very obstical which I had myself before experienced. The address brought into view a Number of home Truths. Evident to Some, unseen by others. As the Sentiments of the writer are known to me, I trace their meaning, end and aim, and pronounce them all wise, just, and Good. The replyanswer of the Senate is Manly, dignified, affectionate and cordial. The Reply will tend to strengthen the bond of union. The whole is calculated to remove the film from the Eyes of those who are disposed to see. I have heard

but one remark, and that was from Jarvis. He was glad to see you come out so fully and declare that the Senate were equal to the defence and preservation of the constitution, and that it needed not a more permanent counsel. With mischievious men, no honest man would hold communion: but with Men who have been mislead, and who possess integrity of Heart, every good Man would be desirious of standing fair. To the latter the conduct of H n has been misterious, and they are ready to think that the President is a more impartial Man than they were taught to believe, and that the opposition and Secret machinations and intrigues of a certain Character arose altogether from knowing that the Man whom a majority of the people wishd to succeed the President was too independent in his Sentiments to receive controul. They conclude that they have been mistaken in him.

I see by the paper received last Evening that the Senate are notified to convene, by which I judge there are Subjects of concequence to be imparted. Are there any official accounts of the reception of Pinckny by the Directory? Such reports are in circulation. I am pleasd to find Mr. Murray appointed as the successor of our Son. I do not know where a properer person could have been found. Russel the printer is an abominable Blunderer; he is not fit to publish State papers. No less than three blunders has he made in publishing the address to the Senate and in the Reply to their answer as you will see by reading it. My mind has ever been interested in publick affairs. I now find, that my Heart and Soul are, for all that I hold dearest on Earth is embarked on the wide ocean, and in a hazardous voyage. May the experience, wisdom and prudence of the helmsman

conduct the vessel in Safety. I am as ever a fellow passenger.

Abigail Adams

Philadelphia March 22d. 1797

My dearest Friend

Last night for the first time I slept in our new House. But what a Scene: The Furniture belonging to the Publick is in the most deplorable Condition. There is not a Chair fit to sit in. The Beds and Bedding are in a woeful Pickle. This House has been a Scene of the most Scandalous Drinking and Disorder among the servants, that ever I heard of. I would not have one of them for any Consideration. There is not a Carpet nor a Curtain, nor a Glass nor Linnen nor China nor any Thing. Dont expose this Picture.

This morning I received your favours of March 12 [Abigail to John, 12 March 1797] and 13th [Abigail to John, 13 March 1797] . I am highly pleased with your Criticisms and Observations on my Adieus to the Senate, their Answer and my Reply. Before now you have a long Speech, which I hope you will

descant on as learnedly and ingeniously.

As to the farms I must leave all to you and Dr. Tufts. Let Trask clear all the Bushes in Curtis's Pasture. I want to have clean Work made there. You have not mentioned My Mares nor Colts. Are the Mares in a Way to breed Us Horses?

I have procured five Horses, which with my little fellow at home, will be all I shall keep.

As to Public Affairs all is Suspence at present. Nothing can be determined till further and more Authentic Accounts arrive.

I never wanted your Advice and assistance more in my Life. My Country will not always oblige her Public Men to make Brick without Straw. As soon as I shall be out of the Question, their Presidents will go on Swimmingly whoever Lives to See it. But it is wicked to complain.

I have not been able to receive any Company. And the House will not be fit for some time.

I am with all Affection and ardent Wishes for your Society,

J.A.