Letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams, 12 October 1799

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Trenton Octr. 12. 1799

My dearest Friend

We arrived on the 10th. I, much oppressed by one of my great Colds, which is now going off. I could obtain only one little Room and one little bedroom but we can make a shift. I came here more loaded with Sorrow than with Rheum. ...Sally Opened her Mind to me for the first time. I pitied her, I grieved, I mourned but could do no more. A Madman possessed of the Devil can alone express or represent. I renounce him. [14.?] Davids Absalom had some ambition and some Enterprize. Mine is a mere Rake, Buck, Blood and Beast.

To go from a private Calamity to a public the Fever in Phyladelphia is still bad, from ten to fourteen in a day. The great black frosts which freeze an Inch, are not come and they are necessary. They seldom come before the Middle of Novr.

If the Weather has been as wett in New England as here, you will have a damp Journey and not pleasant Roads.

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I must be Seperated from you a whole month, which will appear to me long enough.

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[Endorsement -- see page image]

Cite web page as: Letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams, 12 October 1799 [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, 12 October 1799. 3 pages. Original manuscript from the Adams Family Papers, Massachusetts Historical Society.

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