Adams Family Correspondence, volume 7
1786-08-15
Pray, Madam, be carefull how you send Cards to your friends on this side the water another
time. It seems that since you have mentioned Amelia's intended Connection, you have sent a
Card, with something wound round it, on which was written an invitation to you and Mr: A—— to
dinner from Mr: and Mrs. Wm. Smith. This was taken for a certain
Information of Amelia's having entered the marriage state, particularly, as on comparing it
with her hand writing it was determined universally to be hers. Mrs:
C. to whom this Card came enclosed shew it to every and all her friends, but it was
generally wondered why you should send the intelligence in that way. I was not here when it
arrived, but on my return it was talked of every where that Miss Adams was married, and this
story of the Card was always alluded to as the proof. This same Card occasioned a good
anecdote, which perhaps you may not have heard. Mrs: C. on receiving this Card put it upon the
Clock, as you know is customary here. Mr: T: observing it, took
it down and read it. He put it again in its place and turning to Miss
Lucy, who was alone in the room, and meaning to apply to the weather which was then very
unsettled, said “'tis a very changeable time Miss L——” “ Yes Mr:
T. she replied, these are changeable times indeed.” Without an other word he walked
away. And apropos of this said Gentleman, your quondam favorite, You mention that Dr: T—— has recovered every thing from him,
belonDr: once or twice, but he always evades my enquiries. This entre nous, if you please.
You bid me tell you good news, Madam; but I am sorry it is not in my power so to do. We have
just heard of the death of Prentiss Cushing in the W: Indies.1 He was taken ill one day and died the next. This
acco't came but yesterday, so I suppose he is but lately dead.
From the political world neither can I give you any agreable intelligence. The devil I am
afraid has got in among us, and I dread his soon throwing us into a state of anarchy and
confusion. County Conventions and associations have been frequent of late, to point out modes
of redress for grievances that the Constitution does not provide against. Handbills and
Covenants are passing in several Counties, which are signed by many to league and defend each
322other against the operation of law and justice,
and to shut up the Courts of Common Pleas. Some cry out for Paper money; tho' since the
emission of a medium of this kind in Rhode-Island state we have Country we shall all fare alike and each
contribute in just proportion to the common support. Come what will, it must be right in the
end.
Massachusetts Centinel, 26 Aug.;
Sibley's Harvard
Graduates
, 12:252; Lemuel Cushing, The Genealogy of the
Cushing Family, Montreal, 1877, p. 45; Elizabeth Cranch Norton Diaries, MHi: Jacob Norton Papers).