Adams Family Correspondence, volume 12
th1797
The proclamation of the 25 of March, which is published in the
Centinal of April 1st has excited many anxious thoughts in
my Mind. What would I give for an hours conversation it would tend to alleviate my
apprehensions. I feel as if I could fly in all our many seperations. I have experienced
a variety of anxieties. I thought there could be nothing New to feel, but there is now
such a responsibility annexed to your station, that New and various thoughts arise
hourly in my mind, when I contemplate what may be the concequence of such, and Such,
measures. How the senate, how the House will conduct, how the people will act, How
Foreign Nations will be affected, in this dark abyss my imagination wanders, without any
one to converse with, who can at all enlighten me.
I agree with you that there has been an uncommon silence respecting
the late address the Breath of praise was exhausted, the address was acceptable to every
one as I have been told, and has had a very salutary effect upon many who had been
misled, tho well meaning. as Genll Lincoln assured me, no
one has assaild it, but the time is fast approaching when the measures of the Government
cannot be looked upon with an Eye of indifference. we shall either be a united people,
more strongly bound by common danger, or we shall become a prey to foreign influence.
the people will judge right, if they are left to act for themselves it is well to
observe, to watch and to attend to concequences. in the present state of things, it is
almost difficult to conjecture what a Day may bring forth, much less can we see to the
end of a year.
The ambition of individuals, and their Envy will no doubt opperate in proportion to the good or ill success, of the Administration.
That you may be supported through the Arduous and important trials, is the constant and fervent prayer of your
RC (Adams
Papers); addressed: “The President United stats / Philadelphia”; endorsed:
“Mrs A. April 5th. / ansd. 14. 1797.”
Alexander Pope, “The Sixth Epistle of the First Book of Horace,” lines 46–47.