Letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams, [6 April 1776], fragment

Page 1

[This fragment of a letter was previously considered to be page three of a different letter; see: [John to Abigail, 03 December 1775] . Notes in the Adams Papers Editorial files supply a new date for this fragment, 6 April 1776 because the "Resolves" Adams refers to are probably those printed in April 1776 about privateering, and there is evidence John Adams wrote to Abigail Adams on 6 April 1776. ]

As to coming home, I have no Thoughts of it -- shall stay here till the Year is out, for what I know. Affairs are in a critical state and important Steps are now taking every day, so that I could not reconcile it to my own Mind to be absent from this Place at present.

Nothing is expected from the Commissioners, yet We are waiting for them, in some Respects. The Tories, and Timids pretend to expect great Things from them. But the Generality expect nothing but more Insults and Affronts. Privateering is licensed and the Ports are wide open. As soon as the Resolves are printed, which will be tomorrow, I'le send them.

I have had a long Conversation with . He seems to be in a better Temper, and I live on Terms of Decency and Civility with him and he with me. And I am determined to live so. Have lived in more Decency with him and another, since my last Return than ever, at least than since last August when the sin of Precedence was committed. Theres the Rub. But what cant be cured must be endured.

Cite web page as: Letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams, [6 April 1776] [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 Adams, [6 April 1776]. 1 page. 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. Transcription appears as last part of letter dated 3 December 1775.