Quincy March 9th 1799
My dearest Friend
Such extrem cold weather I do not recollect to have felt in March, as it has been this week, and it has laid Thomas up with one of his soar Throats and rhumatism I hope however tho very threatning, that it will not be lasting; I am so well as to ride out, when the weather will permit, and able to look after my poor lad, who I regret has so much of his mothers constitution and infirmities.
Captain Brooks dyed yesterday of a Lung fever, with which he had been sick about ten days; the loss to his Family will be heavily felt.
I am anxious to hear from Philadelphia the result of a nomination which has agitated the public, much more than a declaration of war could have done, the Report of the Senates having negatived the nomination which gave me so much pain and anxiety, was I find, not founded, I presume much of the Clamour has arisen from the mortification of a certain Gentlemans not being intrusted with the Secret, it was hardly fair, or in Character to write upon the first day of the nomination to H--n such a Letter as I have heard was
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written; it may however be misrepresented, but of one thing we are certain, no man has been so high, and so
Clamourous against the measure as Mr Higgisson. Some persons say he ought to be indited upon the Sedition act, he is much blamed for his conduct, I was told, but I do not vouch for the truth, that he went to Ben Mussel to get him to insert the
peices from porcupines paper, which has drawn upon porcupine the Philipic you will see in the same paper, the
peices were however rejected with disdain, and
nothing not
any peice censuring the measure, has
appeard in any Boston paper, but several in justification, You will see one in I Mussels under the signature of
Consistancy, the measure no doubt
dissapoints, the views of many persons, nor
[ . . . ] in the least flatter my vanity, to have the public imagine that I am not equally pacific with my Husband, or that the same Reasons and motives which led him to take upon his own shoulders the weight of a measure, which he knew must excite a
Clamour, would not have equally
opperated upon my mind if I had been admitted a partner in the Counsel. I never pretended to the weight they
asscribe to me.
The additional nomination will tend perhaps to give more general satisfaction.
I congratulate you
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upon the Capture of the Insurgent, and wish all
insurgent might share the same fate.
I hope to learn when I may expect you home by your next Letter,
I am most affectionatly your
A Adams.
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[Envelope -- see page image]
[Endorsement -- see page image]
