Letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams, 17 May 1794

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Philadelphia May 17.1794

My dearest Friend

The long continuance of the session, and the uncommon heat and drought of the Weather have made this, to me an unpleasant Spring. And to increase my Mortification, I have this week received no Letter from you. I have not for Several months before, failed to receive a delicious Letter worth a dozen of mine, once a Week.

Well: Boston comes on: Mr. Morton is now to be its Leader: How changed in Reputation Since 1788:

I wonder not at the Choice of Well-born Winthrop. He might I Suppose have been chosen at any time. His Father was one of my best Friends, and the Son was a good son of Liberty. I know of nothing to his Disadvantage.

The Federalists committed an egregious Blunder, in a very unwarrantable and indecent Attempt, I had almost Said upon the freedom of Elections, at their previous Meeting for the Choice of Governor. The Opposite Party to be sure

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practice Arts nearly as unwarrantable, in secret, and by sevl. agents with printed Votes. But this is no Justification unless upon Catos Principle In corrupta ceiotate Corruptio est licita, i.e. In a corrupt City Corruption is lawful.

Elections are going the Usual Way in our devoted Country. Oh: that I had done with them. --We shall realize the raving in the Tempest, which Charles quoted to me in his last Letter.

In the Commonwealth we shall by contraries

execute all Things: for no kind of Trafic

Shall We admit; no name of Magistrate,

Letters will not be known, wealth, Poverty

and Use of service none; contract, Succession

bowen bound of Land, tilth, Vineyard none;

No Use of Metal, corn or wine or oil,

No Occupation, all Men idle all

And Women too, but innocent and pure;

No Sovereignty.

All Things in common nature should produce

Without sweat or endeavour, Treason, Felony,

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Sword Pike, knife, Gun, or need of any Engine

Would I not have; But nature should bring forth

of its own kind, all foizon, all Abundance

to feed my innocent People.

This is Lubberland indeed. Le Pays de Cocain, I believe the French call it. But it is terra incognito. I am afraid We shall have too many of its qualities without its innocence.

I have no hope of Congress rising, before the last of May. Never in my Life did I long to see you more.

I am most ardently your

J.A.

Mrs. A.

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[Endorsement -- see page image]

Cite web page as: Letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams, 17 May 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, 17 May 1794. 4 pages. Original manuscript from the Adams Family Papers, Massachusetts Historical Society.

Source of transcription: Adams Papers Editorial Project. Unverified transcriptions.