Quincy March 14 1794
My Dearest Friend
This Letter will not bear you so melancholy tidings, as from the close of my last, I apprehended. Our parent Still lives; the ulcer which in my last, I inform You had broken upon her Lungs, and brought on the Symptoms of a Speedy dissolution; She had Strength Sufficient to Grapple with; all day on Sundays, we expected every moment would be her last, but She fell in to a quieter Sleep; and was revived with it; and has to the astonishment of her Friends Survived an other Week. Her cough has again become very troublesome, but She is not so distresst as She was: and may continue for some time to come. She is loth we should think her better: tomorrow will be her Birth Day; when She will commence her 86th year, Since She was taken Sick, She has seen and heard of 5 person in her Neighbourhood carried to their Graves; it has been very Sickly here. Mrs. Bass who lived in our House was buried this Week; She died of a mortification occasiond by a Rupture which She had for Several Years, and not properly attended to. Mr. Seth Batters wife, and Mrs. Prey of a Lung fevers and two children.
The weather has been so warm for three days, this week, that I could not but be anxious for my Philadelphla friends: I fear the late Intelligence will oblige Congress to Sitt long. What can be done with that mad and I may say unjust Nation? If they force us into a war with them
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George will deserve a Second time, to lose his Head; so sure as he provokes America into a war, so sure he will lose his crown. Heaven avert from us so distressing a calamity but there is a General Gloom and distress amongst the mercantile People.
Our people commened War against the canker worm, the 2 day of March. We were the earliest in Town, and we have already Slain our thousands, other people are but just begining, Mr. Black yesterday, I have Sent to Town for an other Barrel of Tar. Yet they use it more prudently than the last year. The Season is not so forward by a fortnight as the last year, the Roads have been so bad the frost just comeing out of the Ground, that Shaw is not yet come. I expect him in a few days -- and have agreed to take Jay, and family. I shall want 5 cows. I can not hear of any under 20 dollors a peice. I Sent last week by a person going into the country after Stock for cows and young cattle. He returnd without getting any with word that they were dearer there than round, here. I Shall want pails Tubs pens hoops and the whole Apparatus for a dairy a Cheese press excepted which I bought. I will Send out the begining of April for my cows, Belcher Says we can keep them here, being well provided with Salt and fresh Hay. We shall be obliged to purchase an other ox, for the other place, by Faxons movements, for he has bought on a match for that hoe had last fall; and a young Horse by which means he makes a Team up for his Son to work with, he is
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a Sad, and I fear a: dishonest Man. I Shall be, glad when we are rid of him; I have purchased 8 Barrels of cider; and I have engaged a Barrel of Rum, and a Barrel of Molasses, a hundred of Sugar as every article is rapidly rising in
concequence of the detention of our vessels and the Ruin of our trade; Some other articles I have omitted least I should plunge too deep; I have engaged
an other load of Hay.
Tis a Sad expensive thing to have to feed Sheep 4 months with corn and English Hay. I make my Boys with one Man Tar for the most part; as soon as the front is out, we Shall finish breaking up the
peice of Ground for corn. I Should like to know whether you design to Break up any New Ground at the other place, or plant over again part of what Faxon broke up last Year. I long to have the places
arrang'd. Gardening will soon come on. I wish Brisler could Send me Some willow Trees. Tell him I Saw Mrs. Brisler, and his Boy this Week. Both are well, and the Boy half grown a very fine child. I have been once only at my Sisters for near Nine weeks. Adieu my dearest Friend, Heaven preserve You in Health and return you in Safety to
Your affectionate
Abigail Adams
The Hayseed not yet arrived.
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[Endorsement -- see page image]
