Adams Family Correspondence, volume 12

Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 31 March 1798 Adams, Abigail Cranch, Mary Smith

Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch

my dear sister March 31 1798

I write you a few lines this morning merely to inclose a Letter which I will thank you to cover and forward to Atkinson.1 I have not time to write this morning to Atkinson. inclosed I sent you a specimin of the Manners Religion & politeness of one of the 44 Gentlemen, Who can come and Eat of my Bread, & drink of my Wine one 471 472 whom the Virginians consider as a Paragon of politeness whom they have plumed themselves upon as a promising ~~young~~ Man, and a Man of Property, one of their best Speakers.—2

I know not what can excite their Wrath to such a degree, but that they think there is yet some Religion left in the Country, and that the people will have some respect to it, & to those Rulers who acknowledge an over Ruling Providence— Baches you see is striving to render the Proclamation Ridiculous and With his Atheistical doctrines spreading French principles far and Wide—but I trust and hope we may as a people be of that happy Number, Whose God is the Lord, and never forget that it is Righteousness which exalteth a Nation, Whilst sin is their Reproach.3

adieu my dear sister / affectionatly Yours

A A—

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

Not found.

AA was referring to the proclamation JA issued on 23 March declaring a fast day for 9 May and the heated response it generated from Democratic-Republicans, including Virginia representative Richard Brent. For both the proclamation and the backlash, see Descriptive List of Illustrations, No. 9, above.

An article printed in the Philadelphia Aurora General Advertiser, 30 March, decried the proclamation and blamed JA and his administration for the present state of U.S. affairs: “The crisis in which this country finds itself and the dangers that threaten it, have principally arisen from our administration, and that of course it is it that ought to fast, reform, and repent.”

Cotton Tufts to Abigail Adams, 31 March 1798 Tufts, Cotton Adams, Abigail

Cotton Tufts to Abigail Adams

Dear Madm. Weymouth March. 31. 1798

In my last I enclosed a rough Plan of the proposed Addition to the Wood House, that Plan will exhibit to You an Idea of the lower Room; since then I have found, that it will not be much more expensive, to take the Roof off from the Wood house & Library and erect a new one over them, than to proceed in the Way that was projected.1 I have accordingly orderd it to be framd in this Way; upon this plan You will have 4 upright Chambers and if You are disposed to have the Library in one of them or to throw two of the Chambers into one Room for that Purpose, it may be done and in either Case, You may have a Way to it from the outside if You should chuse it or if You mean to devote it entirely to a Farm House, it will render it much more convenient and give You sufficient Room.

I do not know what will become of S. Bass if You do not employ him, he is so attach’d to the Place, that he will not enjoy himself if 473 he is not at Work for You—2 what must I do and what Wages must I give them if hired— Soule is on the Farm at 200 Dollars for 8 Months, He did not incline to engage for the Year—

Mr. Lane of Hingham will paint the setting Room Chamber &C Next Week—3 The Season past has been wet & Cold, scarce any drying Weather till within Two or three Days, We shall now push the Business of the Farm, Building and other matters, I have orderd a Boat to Boston to bring all the Necessaries for the Building not already provided, together with 100 Bushells of Oates which will be on the Spot next Week—

Yours of the 18th. Inst. I recd. with 200 Dr. enclosed— I have thought whether it would not be best to purchase fundd. Stock at Philadelphia as I have found for sometime past that it has been sold (6 pr. Ct. Stock) 8d & 10d £ cheaper than at Boston this might be done by Brisler who might get it transferd to the office of Nath. Appleton Esq, it might be purchased in my Name or Brislers—4

I have a strong Inclination to touch upon Politics but my trembling Hands tell me I must close— Mrs. Tufts is as well as her Fatigues & Anxiety of Mind will permit— Sukey I expect will Soon be verging to a close of her Distress, if this warm weather continues

Adieu / Yr. Affecte. Frend

C. T—5

RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “Mrs. Abigail Adams”; endorsed: “Dr Tufts.” Dft (Adams Papers).

This letter has not been found. In her reply of 16 April, AA reported that the letter and plan had not arrived but that even without them she approved Tufts’ proposal for the construction on the outbuilding. She also suggested that entry to the library be accessible from the exterior so as not to disrupt the rest of the house and asked that Tufts provide an estimate of the total cost for the project, enclosing $100 toward the balance (Adams Papers).

Tufts was probably referring to Joseph Bass, a longstanding Adams tenant who was by this time 75 years of age and about whom AA commented, “The old man is usefull” (vol. 8:334, 335; AA to Tufts, 16 April, Adams Papers).

Likely Rufus Lane (1758–1801), a painter and glazier who lived on South Street in Hingham ( History of Hingham , 2:419).

This letter has not been found, and it is unclear where the funds were ultimately invested. For Tufts’ earlier investments on AA’s behalf, see vol. 9:xiii–xiv, 197.

Tufts also wrote to AA on 20 March inquiring about her plans to keep a dairy at their farm and what should be done with the cheese and butter (Adams Papers).