Adams Family Correspondence, volume 8

Susanna Clarke Copley to Abigail Adams, 6 October 1789 Copley, Susanna Clarke Adams, Abigail
Susanna Clarke Copley to Abigail Adams
London Oocr: 6.th 1789 Dear Madam

Your Favor of July 14th: I duely received,1 and feel myself not a little flattered by your kind remembrance, and shall be ever highly gratified in retaining the friendship which flows from so good and benvolent an heart as you possess: as in this state we have very often occation to lament the seperation from those we esteem: so we have had much reason to regret the loss of yourself, and worthy Family from our society: but shall all ways take great delight in hearing of yours, and their prosperity

Indeed my dear Madam shining abilities: (as well as virtues) are so necessary for the Public Welfare; that they will be drawn forth from the private shade of domestic Felicity, and happy is it for the world when they are; as they cannot fail of stimulateing to Virtue, and all will admire, even where they may fail of invitation— The Friends of America here, are felicitateing them selves uppon the wisdom which their Country have shone in choice of their Senators, and which we sincerely hope, will be productive of its prosperity: as well as of that, of those individuals who are acting for them. Mr: Copley desires to join me in respectful Compliments to your self, Mr: Adams, Colonel, and Mrs. Smith; it gives me pleasure to hear of the increase of Mrs: Smiths happiness; (as I look uppon every addition to her Family in that light) and most sincerely hope that they will be renderd lasting comforts to her, and hers.—

By Captain Scoot I had the pleasure to send the Silk according to your direction, and hope I have not exceeded the price that might have been expected, I found it difficult to get a lutestring with any kind of Figure as that kind of Silk is too thin to admit of it, and the Stripes for Mourning are of so little variety and rather common; so that I have sent a gray Silk of a little better quality with a Spot, which is suitable, either for Spring, or Autumn, as well as for winter, and Shall be very happy if it Should prove to be what might be Wished for. the silk was 6s. 6d pr: Yrd: and as it was not quit so wide as a lutestring have sent 20 Yrd. instead of 18

I should have done myself the pleasure of writing sooner had not my absence from Town prevented my knowing when the Vessels have sailed for New York: My dear Betsys health has required my 420spending the chief of the summer with her in the Country, and I am very sensiable that you my dear Madam; will rejoice with me in the present prospect which I have of her perfect resotration. I left her a short time since with my Father at Tunbridge Wells, as I wish her have all the benefit she can from the country before the winter takes place—2

Prehaps this may find the Docr., and Mrs Jefferies in New York as they where uncertain in what part of America they should fix when they left us, but I hope where ever it may be that Success may accompany them,3 we are now about parting with another Friend, this is indeed not plasant; I had much rather this pleaseing commodity Should be brought to us— by Mr Trumbull you will be informed of every particular with regard to this place as well as of your Friends in it, and therefore I will not intrude farther uppon you at this time, than to beg your acceptance of my best wishes for your / health and happiness / and beleive me to be / Madam, with great estee / Your Friend, / and, Humble Servant

S: Copley

RC (Adams Papers); endorsed: “Mrs Copley october / 6th 1790.”

1.

Not found.

2.

Richard Clarke (1711–1795), Harvard 1729, lived in London with his daughter and son-in-law. The Copleys' daughter, Elizabeth Clarke (1770–1866), eventually married Gardiner Greene in 1800 ( Sibley's Harvard Graduates , 8:550, 561; Martha Babcock Amory, The Domestic and Artistic Life of John Singleton Copley, repr. edn., N.Y., 1969, p. 108, 440).

3.

Dr. John Jeffries and his second wife, Hannah Hunt Jeffries, arrived in Boston in November, welcomed by JA among others ( Sibley's Harvard Graduates , 15:425–426).

Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 11 October 1789 Adams, Abigail Cranch, Mary Smith
Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch
Richmond Hill october 11 1789 my dear sister

Mr Adams Sets of tomorrow morning on a visit to Braintree. I would gladly have accompanied him, but so many difficulties arose in the way, that I gave up the Idea. if I had come we must have gone to housekeeping, & by that time I had got things any way convenient, I must have returnd, & that at a season of the year when it would have been cold & unpleasent travelling. I find myself attackd with my Rhumatick complaints upon the Setting in of cold weather, and am obliged to be very circumspect.

The constant application to buisness for six months has made it necessary to mr Adams to take a jouney and he promisses me that he will go to Haverhill and visit his Friends, but [you] are like to have an other visiter, the Pressident Sets out this week for a like 421excursion. He proposes to go as far as Portsmouth he would have had mr Adams accept a seat in his in coach but he excused himself from motives of delicacy. we yesterday had a very pleasent Party together. the whole family of us dinned with the President on thursday, and he then proposed an excursion to long Island by water to visit Princes Gardens, but as mrs Washington does not Love the water we agreed that the Gentlemen should go by water and the Ladies should meet them at a half way House and dine together, and yesterday we had a most Beautifull day for the purpose the President V P. col S. major Jackson mr Izard &c went on Board the Barge at 8 oclock.1 at Eleven the Ladies namely Mrs. washington mrs Adams mrs smith miss custos Set out in mrs Washingtons coach & six & met the Gentlemen at Harlem where we all dinned together & returnd in the same manner. we live upon terms of much Friendship & visit each other often whilst the Gentlemen are absent we propose seeing one an other on terms of much sociability. mrs Washington is a most frindly good Lady, always pleasent and easy doatingly fond of her Grandchildren to whom she is quite the Grandmamma.2

Louissa & John A. S are both innoculated for the small pox on fryday last. I hope my son J Q A arrived safe (as well as Brisler). I suppose he led you to think that I should visit you as he was very urgent for me to come. I think it not unlikly that there will be a summer recess next year & then I hope to see you all. I wish you would be so good as to get some Brown thread for me of mrs Field three Skains of different Sizes. mr A will pay you for her, & for the Rose water, which you have procured. Ruthe Ludden who lives with mrs Field promised me that she would come and live with me when ever she was out of her Time.3 if she holds of the same mind I will Send for her in the spring either by Barnard or the stage. I wish you had polly Tailer. to live alone she is a very excellent Girl but she was never made for society and power was never worse used than in her Hands. I tell her sometimes that if I had taken mrs Brislers advice I never should have brought her. of all things I hate to hear people for ever complaining of servants but I never had so much occasion as since I came here one good servant attached to you is invaluable. the one who attends mr Adams is good for nothing that I know of but to look after his Horses. he has servd us as a coachman ever since I have been here. I hope Brisler will return, but I would not urge it too much, as the best people may take advantage of their own concequence and importance.

422

How is mrs Norten does she begin to look stately? I shall want to see her. Lucy I hope is well I pleasd my self for a week with the Idea of spending three months with you, but it cannot be

I will thank you to look over mr Adams things for him & see that they agree with the list which I will send as soon as I know what he takes— Love to mr Cranch Remember me kindly to my Mother & all other Friends. yours most affectionatly

A Adams—

RC (MWA:Abigail Adams Letters); addressed by AA2: “Mrs Mary Cranch / Braintree.”

1.

Major William Jackson, who had previously escorted CA home from Europe in 1781, was serving as one of Washington's secretaries (vol. 4:170–171; DAB ).

2.

For Martha Washington's grandchildren, see Descriptive List of Illustrations, No. 11, above.

3.

Ruth Ludden (b. 1772) was the daughter of Benjamin and Ruth Ludden of Braintree. She was not available to work for AA until she turned eighteen, still more than a year away ( Braintree Town Records , p. 837).