Adams Family Correspondence, volume 13
br18 1798
when this reaches you I presume you will have arivd to the end of your journey, and have taken possession of your office, where I trust you will be usefull—and I hope happy— I find the publick offices are removed, from Trentown.1 I judge your uncle will proceed immediatly to Philadelphia. I have not had a line from mr Brisler for more than a month. I hope if he and his Family are safe returnd, that he will write to me immediatly, as I shall want to learn from him many things respecting the Family, and particuliarly whether he received safe the Letters I wrote him respecting the wine—2
on the Thursday as was proposed, after you left me, Mr Foster was
married to miss Betsy Smith, there been present mr Fosters mother, two sisters, and a
cousin, sister smith Dr and mrs Tufts, cousin Betsy smith of Weymouth Boston, your Mamma, and the Revd dr Ackly who
performd the service, in a very solemn & pathetic manner3 they came out early in the afternoon took Tea
with me about seven the ceremony was performd; and before nine they returnd to Boston.
Betsy conducted herself with much ease and propriety. so did mr Foster who is a modest
well behaved Gentlemanly young Man. I rejoice to find that Betsy is so agreably
connected, for tho I have known mr Foster from others, I never had an opportunity of
conversing with him untill a few Evenings before he was married.
Your Mother went into Boston with her the next day, on fryday; and preposed reaching Home yesterday Saturday. mr Peabody tarried for her in Town—
280Your uncle Cranch has been very sick ever since you went away. mr Porter watchd with him last night, and brings me word that he is rather better this morning—
I inclose to you the list of your Cloaths which you left.4 mr Fenno must send me his paper and You must put up Claypoles and send me. let mr Brisler subscribe to mr Fenno for me. you must write to me and tell me your observations upon the Country and what ever you met with amusing. I should not feel so lonely if I could read, but I cannot but for a short time—
I am my dear Nephew / your affectionate
RC (DLC:Shaw Family Papers); addressed: “Mr William S Shaw / Philadelphia”; endorsed: “Mrs Adams. / Answered.”; docketed: “1798 / Nov 18.”
The Massachusetts Mercury, 16 Nov.,
and Boston Columbian Centinel, 17 Nov., both reported
that government offices had returned to Philadelphia from Trenton, N.J., as the city
was deemed safe from yellow fever.
Not found, but see Shaw to AA, 25 Nov., below.
James Hiller Foster was the son of Elizabeth Hiller Foster (ca.
1748–1806); he had five sisters: Mary Ann, Abigail, Elizabeth, Margaret, and Lydia
(Frederick Clifton Pierce, Foster Genealogy, 1 vol. in 2,
Chicago, 1899, 1:214; Boston Democrat, 5 Nov. 1806).
Enclosure not found.
Shaw replied to AA on 5 Dec. 1798, writing that news of her improving health had cheered him and JA and commenting on the recently published letter from Joel Barlow to Abraham Baldwin (Adams Papers).