Letter from John Adams to Abigail Smith, 4 May 1764

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Four O Clock afternoon May 4th. 1764

Returned from a Ramble in Town which began at 10 in the Morning. Dined with my Friend S. Adams and Wm. Checkley, and visited &c. - so that this is the first Moment of my Knowledge of my Letters or the Dr. being in Town.

Once I have ridden to Dorchester Meeting House in a Chaise with Myra, another Day, round the Town, and over the Neck in a Chaise with Myra, and Yesterday I rode on Horse back into the Country twelve Miles out and in, with one of my Hospital Companions. -- We are all well but one, who is more hysterical than any ancient Maiden, in the Gout. An History of his Oddities, would be a Curiosity. -- But the Man is in no Danger, his small Pox is all gone, and he can eat

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his Pint of Chocolate, and drink his Bowl of Claret sangaree, as well as any Man.

I have had a fine Time of it. I drank Frontinac and Mountain Malaga, and eat Oysters in order to make the Pock fill well, till I filld up about 30 fine ones.

The Dr. waits and wont light.

Cite web page as: Letter from John Adams to Abigail Smith, 4 May 1764 [electronic edition]. Adams Family Papers: An Electronic Archive. Massachusetts Historical Society. http://www.masshist.org/digitaladams/

Original manuscript: Adams, John. Letter from John Adams to Abigail Smith, 4 May 1764. 2 pages. Original manuscript from the Adams Family Papers, Massachusetts Historical Society.

Source of transcription: Butterfield, L.H., ed. Adams Family Correspondence. Vol. 1. Cambridge, Mass. : Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1963.