Adams Family Correspondence, volume 13

Benjamin Rush to Abigail Adams, 1 July 1799 Rush, Benjamin Adams, Abigail
Benjamin Rush to Abigail Adams
My dear Madam Philadelphia July 1st: 1799

In addressing a small publication to the President, I am naturally led to congratulate You upon your recovery from your late tedious indisposition.1 May you long continue to enjoy your present health, and to add by your kindnesses, to the happiness of all Connected with you.—

Your Son Thomas calls now & then to see us, but not so Often as we wish. He is fixed in a part of the city which does not promise him immediate success in business. I wish he were situated nearer to market street. Perhaps he has made choice of his present retired Office for the Sake of qualifying himself more fully by previous study for the duties of his profession.— we hear Nothing now of his Attention to the Ladies, so that the President’s fears of his checking his studies, and prospects in life by a premature marriage are Altogether without foundation.— The President I hope has not forgotten 499 the conversation in the presence of both our sons, to Which the above information alludes. I did not think, nor coincide with him. The sooner our sons marry, After they acquire the means of Subsistence, the better. But I will not debate this matter with our friend, at our present distance. After all that can be said on both Sides the Question, our sons will follow their inclinations.—

Our City was alarmed a few days ago with reports of several Cases of the bilious fever, for they cannot be yellow fevers, since the laws we have passed to destroy our trade, in Order to present their importation from the West Indies. At present the public mind is more composed. If the disease should revive, I shall whisper in your son’s ear the necessity of flight, for I have acquired so much of General Lee’s rascally Virtue of prudence upon this subject, that I dare not openly advise even my friends to leave the city.2 A horseshoe upon the sill of a farmer’s door to keep away witches, does not strike my mind as a more degrading proof of the Weakness of the human Understanding, than the present Quarantine laws of the state of Pennsylvania to prevent the importation of the yellow fever, and the cruel treatment they give the men who advise the prevention of it from domestic sources.3

My dear Mrs Rush joins me in most affectionate regards to you & the President. Most of our family are in the Country. Our Eldest son has received his Leiutenant’s Commission in the Navy with great gratitude, and I hope will not dishonour it. He was well on the 25th of may cruising off St Christophers.—4 We do not expect to see him before October.—

From my Dr madam / Your sincere friend

Benjn: Rush.

RC (Adams Papers); docketed: “Dr Rush to Mrs Adams / July 1st 1799.”

1.

No letter to JA from Rush has been found, but Rush almost certainly sent him his latest work, Three Lectures upon Animal Life, Delivered in the University of Pennsylvania, Phila., 1799, Evans, No. 36255.

2.

Rush was referring to Gen. Charles Lee’s retreat at the Battle of Monmouth on 28 June 1778, for which see JA, Papers , 7:164.

3.

Pennsylvania’s quarantine policy was set out in the 22 April 1794 “Act for establishing an Health-office” and in supplemental acts passed in 1795, 1796, 1798, and 1799. The legislation established a health office on State Island and two hospitals, prohibited “all intercourse with infected places within the United States,” and quarantined both U.S. and foreign vessels for ten to thirty days. Ships’ captains were required to answer questions about their vessels, cargoes, and crews. On 25 Feb. Congress passed “An Act respecting Quarantines and Health Laws,” upholding state laws and mandating the use of brick warehouses for quarantined materials (A Compilation of the Health-Laws of the State of Pennsylvania, Phila., 1798, Evans, No. 34324; Health-Office, Phila., 1795, Evans, No. 29304; Simon Finger, The Contagious City: The Politics of Public Health in Early Philadelphia, Ithaca, N.Y., 2012, p. 128, 131–132, 136–138, 147; U.S. Statutes at Large , 1:619–620; Oliver Wolcott Jr. to JA, 29 June, Adams Papers; JA to Wolcott, 5 July, CtHi:Wolcott Papers).

500 4.

John Rush (1777–1837) enlisted in the U.S. Navy in May 1798 and was serving as a surgeon aboard the sloop of war Ganges, which had departed St. Christopher’s (now St. Kitts) on 20 May 1799 in pursuit of French privateers (Eric T. Carlson and Jeffrey L. Wollock, “Benjamin Rush and His Insane Son,” Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine, 51:1318, 1321, 1328 [Dec. 1975]; New York Spectator, 19 June).

Ruth Hooper Dalton Deblois to Abigail Adams, 2 July 1799 Deblois, Ruth Hooper Dalton Adams, Abigail
Ruth Hooper Dalton Deblois to Abigail Adams
Washington July 2nd 1799 My much Respected Madam

I am commissioned by my truly distress’d Mother to say for her, that she cannot acquire resolution sufficient to adress you, but so greatful does she feel for your comforting and consoling letter, that she is hurt it has not met that attention it merited long before this 1 she flatter’d herself week after week she should be able to write you. I am griev’d to add, she too much gives up to her sorrow! and alas! refuses to receive the comfort we are all anxious to administer—to a feeling mind like yours my worthy Madam it is needless to say how heavy our affliction is. you knew our dear departed relative, you honor’d her with your esteem, and I doubt not shed a tear to her Memory, as has our much lov’d Louisa. a Channel so often bedew’d with its own sorrow, can never be callous to the feelings of others, and most soothing to our wounded hearts, is the sympathy we have receiv’d from our Friends

Many have been the uneasy Moments this family have experienc’d on your infirm health, but the last accounts we had was more pleasing as we heard you were much better, we one and all sincerely pray you may enjoy many years of permanent health, and remain a blessing to all that have the honor of being acquainted with you: My Parents request their best regards may be presented to the President, and accepted by yourself— Mr Deblois with my Sister Kitty unites with me in offering our sincere respects—and love to Louisa—

And be assur’d my worthy and respected Madam I remain with every proper sentiment Your most humble Servant—

R H Deblois

RC (Adams Papers).

1.

AA’s letter of condolence to Ruth Hooper Dalton on the death of Sarah Dalton has not been found.

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