Sunday Eve'g. july 16 1780
My dearest Friend
I had just retired to my Chamber and taken up my pen to congratulate you upon the arrival of the Fleet of our Allies at Newport, when I was call'd down to receive the most agreable of presents -- Letters from my dearest Friend -- one Bearing date March 28
[John to Abigail, 28 March 1780]
by Mr. Izard and one of May 3d
[John to Abigail, 03 May 1780]
, taken out of the post office, but to what port they arrived first I know not. They could not be those by the Fleet, as in these you make mention of Letters which I have not yet received, nor by the Alliance since Mr. Williams sailed 25 days after the Fleet, and she was then in France. A pitty I think that she should stay there when here we are almost destitute, our Navy has been unfortunate indeed! -- Am sorry to find that only a few lines have reached you from me. I have written by way of Spain, Holland and Sweden, but not one single direct conveyance have I had to France since you left me. I determine to open a communication by way of Guardoca. I wish you would make use of the same conveyance.
This with some others will go Direct to you, by the Mars, Capt. Sampson commander, a state vessel. She will return in the Fall, by her should be glad you would order all the Articles I have written for by Mr. Guile, or any other way. So few opportunities offer that my list will contain more articles than I should otherways mention.
What shall I say of our political affairs. Shall I exclaim at measures, now impossible to remedy? No I will hope all from the generous aid of our allies
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in concert with our own exertions. I am not suddenly elated or depressed. I know America capable of any thing she undertakes with spirit and
vigour, "Brave in distress, serene in conquest, drowsy when at rest, is her true
characteristick."
[Quotation from Thomas Paine's "American Crisis, No. IX", as reprinted in the Continental Journal, 29 June 1780, p. 2, col. 2.] Yet I deprecate a failure in our present Efforts. The Efforts are great, and we give this Campaign more than half our property to defend the other. He who tarries from the
Feild cannot possibly earn sufficient at Home, to reward him who takes it. Yet should Heaven bless our endeavours and Crown this year with the blessings of peace, no exertion will be thought too great, no price of property too dear.
My whole Soul is absorpt in the Idea. The Honour of my dearest Friend, the welfare and happiness of this wide extended Country, ages yet unborn, depend for their happiness and security, upon the able and skillfull, the Honest and upright Discharge of the important trust committed to him. It would not become me to write the full flow of my Heart upon this occasion. My constant petition for him is, that he may so discharge the trust reposed in him, as to merrit the approveing Eye of Heaven, and Peace, Liberty and Safety crown his latest years in his own Native Land.
The Marchioness at the Abbe Reynald is not the only Lady who joins an Aproveing voice to that of her Country, tho at the expence of her present domestick happiness. It is easier to admire virtue, than to practise it, especially the great virtue of self denial. I find but few sympathizing souls. Why should I look for them? since few have any souls but of the sensitive kind.
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That nearest Allied to my own they have taken from me, and tell me
Honour and Fame are a compensation.
"Fame, wealth or Honour -- what are ye to Love?"
But hushd be my pen. Let me cast my Eye upon the Letters before me. What is the example? I follow it in silence.
I have repeated to you in former Letters that I had received all your Letters from Spain, unless you wrote by Capt. Trash, who brought me some articles, but no Letters. In a former Letter I wrote you an account of the death of Sister A-s [Adams] and that she left a poor Babe only 5 days old -- a distressd flock of little ones besides. My Father desires to be rememberd to you, but will I fear never again see you. He declines daily, has a slow fever hanging about him, which wastes his flesh and spirits. These are tender ties, and how far ever advanced in life, the affectionate child feels loth to part with the Guide of youth, the kind adviser of riper years, yet the pillow must Moulder with time and the fabrick fall to the dust.
Present my complements to Mr. d-a [Dana]. Tell him I have calld up his Lady, and we enjoyed an afternoon of sweet communion. I fit she would not be averse to takeing a voyage should he be continued abroad. She groans most bitterly, and is Irreconcilable to his absence. I am a mere philosopher to her. I am inured, but not hardned to the painfull portion. Shall I live to see it otherways?
Your Letters are always valuable
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to me, but more particularly so, when they close with an affectionate
assurence of regard, which
tho I do not doubt, is never repeated without
exciteing the tenderest sentiments -- and never omitted without pain to the affectionate Bosom of
Your Portia
[Endorsement -- see page image]
