Adams Family Correspondence, volume 4

James Lovell to Abigail Adams, 29 November 1781 Lovell, James AA

1781-11-29

James Lovell to Abigail Adams, 29 November 1781 Lovell, James Adams, Abigail
James Lovell to Abigail Adams
Madam Novr. 29 1781

My Almanac says that I wrote to you on the 9th. of October, but your Favour of Sepr. 26.1 received the 8th. of Octr. is not endorsed answered. Is this the Reason of your Silence? Or, Heaven forbid it! are you sick? At best, I fear you are in Distress.—Mr. Adams was well late in Augst., but I cannot conceal my anxieties about your second Son, who was to take Passage with Gillon. That Frigate which was to bring him was forced out to Sea without taking the Merchantmen under Convoy, which had been loaded with a View of having her 246Protection. 13 Weeks have elapsed since. I do not however despair of her Arrival. I only deal justly by you in giving the real State of the Case that your Hopes may be duely regulated.

I do not now answer your Letter. I write for Post Conveyance and am not in the Humour to use Cyphers.

I find by a Letter of Sepr. 13th. from Doctr. Franklin that Mr. Adams had received our Proceedings of June before the Doctor's Communication of them:2 I mean those Proceedings to which you refer in your Letter now before me. I wish much to learn the Effect upon his Philosop h y. I feel Satisfaction in thinking him a much calmer Man than myself. Whatever he determines will be well weighed. He is practised in sacrificing his personal Feelings and Interest to his Country.

I have received some Gazettes from him without a Line of Epistle. This is not the only Reason I have for thinking that my Letters Via France do not reach his Eye.

I hope you are not very ill. You are surely not very well. Yr. m h Servant, J. L.

RC (Adams Papers); addressed: “Mrs. A Adams Braintree.”

1.

Perhaps the same as her draft letter of 20 Sept., printed above under that date; see note 1 there.

2.

See Franklin to Congress, 13 Sept., Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. , 4:709–710.

Joseph Gardoqui & Sons to Abigail Adams, 30 November 1781 Gardoqui, Joseph & Sons (business) AA

1781-11-30

Joseph Gardoqui & Sons to Abigail Adams, 30 November 1781 Gardoqui, Joseph & Sons (business) Adams, Abigail
Joseph Gardoqui & Sons to Abigail Adams
Madam Bilbao the 30th. Novr. 1781

We beg leave to Trouble you above with duplicate of our last Respectts to you,1 and as have had since the very high pleasure and satisfaction of seeing with us your worthy Amable little Son Mr. Charles Adams under the Care of Major Jakson Intending boath to Returne home on Board the Armed Ship the Cicero Capt. Hugh Hill, have with the Majors advice Taken the liberty of altering your dispositions, accordingly have Instead of shipping the order you was pleased to give us on Board the Boston Packett Capt White, Embarkt the same under the Immediate care of your little Dear Son on the above Vessell the Cicero as you will see per the within Invoice and bill of loading which Request the favour of your ordering it to be Examined and if without Errors to place its ammount to our Credit In Riales 914 & 10 mrs. of Vn.2 We most affectionately wish that your dear little Darling may present you in full health the Articles contained 247in the Invoice after a safe prosperous and pleasing Passage of 30 days, which will be the highest Satisfaction to those who have the honour of subscriving with the most profound Respectts of Esteem Madam your mt. obt. hble. Serts.,

Joseph Gardoqui & sons

RC (Adams Papers); at foot of text: “Originall per Hill, Copy per Dixzy”; see note 1. Enclosed “Invoice and bill of loading” not found.

1.

That is, a duplicate of their letter to AA of 14 Oct., above. No duplicate has been found; nor is it clear whether the present letter is the “Originall” sent by Hill or the “Copy” sent by “Dixzy,” presumably Capt. John Dixey of New-buryport (Gardner W. Allen, Massachusetts Privateers of the Revolution [MHS, Colls. , 77 (1927): 246]).

2.

Maravedis of vellon; see Gardoqui & Sons to AA, 14 Oct., above.