Adams Family Correspondence, volume 8
d.1789
Since my return to England, I have been told of the great Civilities you were pleased to Shew to My Dear Deceased Child. I return you a thousand thanks for it and I wish it may ever be in my power to shew you what I feel upon the occasion. As it was not the fault of any Person, but the Will of God, I endeavour to receive it with all the resignation I am able— I hope that you, and all your amiable family, enjoy the Blessings of health, happiness, and prosperity, in as high a degree, as I know they Merit. I beg you will have the goodness to present my best Compliments to them.
I have the honour to Congratulate you and your Family upon the appointment of Mr. Adams to be our Vice President to our Newly Established Federal Constitution. God Grant that it may be productive of every good to our Country: and I make not be least doubt of it, since we are happy to have the Wisest and best of Gentlemen to Govern Us. We are a Great Nation and with good Laws to make People Industrious and oblige them to pay their debts; We shall be the First Country in the World. Our Friend Mr. Jefferson talks of returning to America soon, pray My Dear Madam send him back to Paris as soon as you can. He is a Most excellent Man. I am under the Greatest of obligations to him, and My Dear Friend Dr. Bancroft. Indeed, I do not know what I should have done in my afflictions since My return to Europe, had not Providence been graciously pleased to raise up these two excellent Gentlemen to assist Me.
Mr. Trumbulle has just finished a Picture that does him great Credit.1 I always rejoice when our Country Men excels the Europeans. Mr. Freine often talks to me about the Civilities he received from his Excellency Mr. Adams2 he desired Me to present his Compliments to you Mr. Adams and all your amiable family. He is a most excellent good Man, and I wish if his Court sent a Minister to America they would send him, you know him so well, I need to say No more about him. Be pleased to make my best Compliments to his Excellency General and Mrs. Washington to General and Mrs. Knox—and family, to Sr. John and Lady Temple, to Mr and Mrs. Jay, Mr and Mrs Kemble3 Cyrus Griffin, and the Foreign Ministers and their Families, and to My Dear and old Friend Dr Franklin and his 368truly good Daughter and all her family.4 I hope to be honoured by the return of the packet with a Letter from you—
Dear Madam / I have the Honour to be / Your Most Obliged / Humble Servt.
P. S It is reported the Dauphen of Frençe is Dead5
I am fixed in London until May Next In Margaret Street No. 45 Cavendish Square London
RC (Adams Papers); addressed: “To / Her Excellency Mrs. John— / Adam New York / North America”; internal address: “Mrs. Adams”; docketed: “Lucy Paradise.”
John Trumbull completed the third and largest rendition of his Sortie Made by the Garrison of Gibraltar during the spring of 1789 in London, where it was exhibited in a public hall from April to July (Trumbull, Autobiography
, p. 148–150).
Ciprião Ribeiro, Chevalier de Freire, the Portuguese chargé d'affaires in London, whom the Adamses had met at the home of the Paradises. He served as Portugal's minister in the United States from 1793 to 1801 (vol. 6:209;
Repertorium
, 3:321).
Peter Kemble (1739–1823), of the New York commercial house of Gouverneur & Kemble, was married to Gertrude Gouverneur, the sister of his partners (New-York Historical Society, Colls., 17:xv [1884]).
Franklin's only daughter, Sarah (Sally, 1743–1808), had married Richard Bache (1737–1811) in 1767. Together, they had seven children, including Benjamin Franklin Bache, who had been a schoolmate of JQA's in Passy, France (
Notable Amer. Women
; vol. 3:15, 5:459).
Louis Joseph Xavier François, the French dauphin, died on 4 June 1789 of tuberculosis (Schama, Citizens
, p. 356–357).
I must now most Seriously request you to come on to me as soon as conveniently you can. never did I want your assistance more than at present, as my Physician and my Nurse. my disorder of Eight years standing has encreased to such a degree as to be very troublesome and not a little alarming.—1
I have agreed to take Col Smith and his Family and Furniture into the House with us and they will be removed into it by next Wednesday.— If Charles has a Mind to stay and deliver his French oration at Commencement, I am willing, and I think it will be greatly for his Reputation and Advantage. in that Case Charles and Tommy may both come to gether to New York after Commencement by the Way of Rhode Island, or by the Stage.
As to Louisa, our Family will be very great, and vastly expensive and House very full. if you think however you can find room and Beds &C I will not say any Thing against your bringing her.
369You must leave the Furniture to be packed by others and sent after you— We must have it all removed and Sent here, as well as all the Liquers in the Cellar, and many of the Books, for here We must live, and I am determined not to be running backward and forward, till the 4 years are out, unless my Health should oblige me to resign my office of which at present there is some danger.
It has been a great dammage that you did not come on with me yours affectionately
RC (Adams Papers); addressed: “Mrs Adams / Braintree / near / Boston”; internal address: “Mrs Adams.”; notation: “Free / John Adams.”
For JA's illness dating back to his time in Amsterdam, possibly malaria or typhus, see JA, Papers
, 11:469–470, note 1.
On 7 June, JA wrote another brief letter to AA (Adams Papers) largely reiterating his comments here and again urging her to come as quickly as possible. He did add that if CA decided to stay for commencement, John Briesler should accompany her to New York.