Adams Family Correspondence, volume 3

Abigail Adams to Charles Adams, 19 January 1780 AA Adams, Charles

1780-01-19

Abigail Adams to Charles Adams, 19 January 1780 Adams, Abigail Adams, Charles
Abigail Adams to Charles Adams
My dear Charles Janry. 19 1780

How does my son after the fatigues of a voyage. A young adventurer 270indeed, how many times did you wish yourself by mammas fireside. But pappa wrote me that you made as good a sailor as your Brother, flatterd you a little I suppose, But I was very glad to hear you did so well.

I hope before this time that you are safe landed possibly arrived at Paris and placed at school, where I hope you will strive to obtain the Love and good will of every Body by a modest obliging Behaviour. You was a favorite in the Neighbourhood at home, all of whom wonder how Mamma could part with you. Mamma found it hard enough tis true, but she consulted your good more than her own feelings, and hopes you will not dissapoint her hopes and expectations by contracting vices and follies, instead of improveing in virtue and knowledge which can only make you usefull to society and happy to yourself.

You have an opportunity very early in life of seeing a foreign Country and of Learning a Language which if you live may be very serviceable to you, and even at this early period of your life you may form Friendships, if you behave worthy of your country, which will do honour to you 1 in future, but in order to do 2 this you must be very attentive to your Books, and to every Branch of knowledge and improvement with which your pappa is pleasd to indulge you.

Let your ambition lead you to make yourself Master of what you undertake, do not be content to lag behind others, but strive to excell.

I hope soon to hear of your welfare and happiness which are always near the heart of your ever affectionate Mother.

LbC (Adams Papers).

1.

Word omitted in MS.

2.

Word omitted in MS.

John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 19 January 1780 JQA AA

1780-01-19

John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 19 January 1780 Adams, John Quincy Adams, Abigail
John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams
Hond. Mamma Bilbao Jay. the 19th 1780

I can never keep my pen out of my hand when ever there is an oportunity of writing and as there is one now by a Captn. Lovett I will make the best of it.

I am Sorry to inform you that the Jason and Monmouth are taken and Manly for a third time is in a british prison but you very probably will have heard of this before this reaches you but what more than makes up for it is that there are 50,000 Men in arms in Ireland all united in the generous intention of freeing themselves from the yoke of that Tyrant George the 3d.

271

We are anxious about the Confederacy having heard nothing of her Since we Left America.1 The last papers from France mention nothing of her arrival but I must conclude in Subscribing myself your most dutiful Son,

John Quincy Adams

PS Excuse the writing I being a little unwell and not having a very good pen.

RC (Adams Papers); addressed: “To Mrs. Adams Braintree near Boston”; endorsed: “J Q Adams 19 Jan 1780.”

1.

The Continental frigate Confederacy, Capt. Seth Harding, had sailed from the Delaware late in October bound for France, with C. A. Gérard, Mme. Gérard, John Jay, and Mrs. Jay among the passengers. Eleven hundred miles at sea it was dismasted in a storm but managed to creep into St. Pierre, Martinique, in mid-December, whence the diplomats took passage in a French vessel. See Morris, Peacemakers , p. 1–6.