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Letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams, 9 February 1794


My dearest Friend

So! The Tables are turned on the French Faction! And The English Faction will exult in their Turn, in the Prospect of The West India Islands a Conquest to England: The French Navy wholly ruined: and Insurrection spreading from Province to Province.

Alass I see no Cause of Joy is all these Exhalations in either side. I am compelled to console myself as well as I can.

Durum: Sed levius fit patientia,
Quicquid corrigere est nefas. Hor.

Est Aliquis in dolende decor: hic sapienti servandus est: et quem admodum in caetoris rebus, ita et in lachrimus aliquid sat est. Imprudentium ut guadia, sic dolores exundavere. AEqoe animo excipe necessavia. Seneca. Ep. 100.

Dont be impatient for the meaning of these Mysteries. Wait till John comes up to translate them.

Indeed and in Truth I see no Consolation upon these Occassions, but in Stoicism, or Christianity. I am no more delighted with the Idea of The West Indies in the hands of the English, than I was with Brabant and Flanders in the Power of Dumourier.

yours affectionately
J. A.


Cite web page as: Letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams, 9 February 1794 [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, 9 February 1794. 1 page. Original manuscript from the Adams Family Papers, Massachusetts Historical Society.
Source of transcription: Adams Papers Editorial Project. Unverified transcriptions.
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