Adams Family Correspondence, volume 12
ry20 1798
I do not know whether there is any getting over the Rivers. the Eastern Mail due yesterday is not arrived. the Ice has been broken up for two or three days past mr B Beals who has been here more than a week, talkd of leaving the city yesterday. I have given him a little matter addrest to Cousin Betsy. it is a small Box of the size of a little plate. in it you will find a shawl handkerchief which is for you, and tho almost the only covering worn by our Ladies here, in the Winter, you will think it more proper for April or May. my Sattin fur Cloak is almost singular.
I wrote to mrs Black yesterday and shall certainly be very attentive to the Child. it grows finely1
we had some snow at the same time you had, but a much less quantity. we have had some very fine Weather this Month, and it still continues. I wish our political Horizen look as bright as our Natural one does, but we have a dark prospect. I am at a loss to know how the people who were formerly so much alive to the usurpation of one Nation can crouch so tamely to a much more dangerous and dareing one, to one which aims not only at our independance and libety but a total annihilation of the Christian Religion—whose Laws, all which they have, are those of Draco, who are Robbers murderers scoffers, backbiters. in short no crime, however black or Horrid to which they have not become familiar. America must be punished, punished for having amongst her legislatures men who 357 Sanction these crimes, who justify France in all her measures, and who would rejoice to see fire sword and massacre carried into the Island of Great Britain untill she became as misirable, as France is wretched.
O My Native state, wash ye, make yourselves clean from these abominations.2 you are Guilty of sending three such Men, V——m, F——n s——er not a single state but what has Some Conneticut excepted—tho many of them would not go all lengths. Virgina has but two Federilists, North Carolina but one.3 can we expect such measures to be adopted as the safety and security of the Country require? every Man who sees the danger, may toil & toil, like Syssiphass, (I believe the Name is misspelt) the weight recoils. we have Letters from mr Murry a few lines from, mr Marshall to him informs him: that the envoys were not received, and he did not believe they would be they dare not write, knowing that every word would be inspected. they have not been permitted to hold any society or converse with any citizen. in short they have been in a Mere Bastile. We are in daily expectation of their return—4
I expected from what you last wrote to hear of Abdes death. Pheby will be surrounded as long as there is any thing to eat or drink, and I suppose she will think very hard to be obliged to alter her mode of living, but tho I am willing to assist towards her mantanance, I do not like to Support all she may keep with her—and her whole income would not find her wood. untill spring it would be best she should remain where she is. I would have mr Porter let her have a Bushel of corn. the money I sent, you will lay out for wood or otherways as you think best. it would not do for me to order her any more wood but, I would buy for her. that is an article she must have. pray order her some when she wants and I will pay for it. the negro Woman who lives with her should be obliged to find some; for she pays no rent. you will be so good as to let me know how she is.
Mrs smith is still at East Chester, waiting & expecting!— I have just had a line from sister Peabody of Jan’ry 5th all well—5
I could very easily forgive mr Whitney, and should still like him for our minister. I am sorry he was not better advised. I suppose mr Wibird will not think of removeing now there is a female in the House. I do not know but mr Wibird himself may go and do likewise. Remember me affectionatly to all our dear Friends ever your affectionate sister
RC (MWA:Abigail Adams Letters).
Likely AA to Esther Duncan Black, 17 Jan., above.
Isaiah, 1:16.
Four Federalists represented Virginia in the House of Representatives at this time: Thomas Evans, James Machir, Daniel Morgan, and Josiah Parker. North Carolina’s lone Federalist representative was William Barry Grove (
Biog. Dir. Cong.
).
John Marshall’s brief letter to William Vans Murray of 21 Oct. 1797 reporting that the envoys had not been received, did not expect to be, and were “preparing for orders … to leave France” was enclosed with Murray’s letter to Timothy Pickering of 28 October. Murray also wrote to JA on 31 Oct. repeating the information from Marshall but also relaying news of JQA’s arrival at Hamburg en route to Berlin (Marshall, Papers
, 3:254; Adams Papers).
Not found.
y.20d 1798
I wonder Sister Peabody Should trouble you about our Nephews concerns. the first Letter She wrote you She sent open for me to read.1 I had written her before desiring that mr Atwood would get all the Bills, his own, the Doctors & nursies with the funiral charges, & send them to mr Cranch with an account of what money Charles had by him. we Should then be able to write to his brother william about it. I do not think that any of us ought to be at this expence tis all the poor young creature can have of what our Father gave them— not a Bill has been sent nor a line from Sister about it to me. She wrote cousin Betsy the other day that mr Smith had given the nurse more than any one but mr Atwoods Sister ought to have. I know mr & mrs Smith were at Atkinson very Soon after charles’ death I hope She did not beg it of him. he is a generous man & would need but a Small hint. he has been ever ready to assist that Family & I must Say they are not half grateful enough at least some of them are not. till mr Atwood had sent his charges, we could not tell what ought to be done by a present or whether any thing. all we know we have learnt from sisters Letters to you. as to his Brothers we none of us have had a line from them Since we inform’d them of charles’ death Cousen Besty is gone to Boston & means to get a ring made for mrs Atwood but not to be paid for by you we have her mothers money which can be spair’d to purchase it, & sister will send it in her own name. there is no one else of the Family can properly give it out of her income but herself— I hope Sister will not write you again upon the Subject. She Should have written to us not to you. it has quite mortified cousen Betsy
I have givin Phebe out of the money you sent a pound of Tea 3/4 & seven pounds of Sugar. 6/. I shall get some Rye & some fresh meat for her as I see she wants it. I gave her three cheeses besides 359 pork & many other things She always keeps a house full of Blacks & low whites I fear She does not get any thing by it. when you return we must try what way may be least expensive to support her. it ought not to lay so much upon you. She seems to be much better than She was— she was worn down with her Husbands sickness
I have been Since meeting with mr ware who preach’d here to day to see mrs Baxter. I found her very low indeed Scarcly able to speak to be heard. the other child is dead. The Family sent here at eleven a clock last evening for a minister to pray with her they thought her dying. her head has been in a dreadful State they put on a large Blister between her Shoulders last eve, which has releav’d her a little for the present. She looks very Sick can take nothing but Toast & water. She can Scarcely bear a person to whisper in the house. She may live but I think her very dangerous. Some of her diffeculices are remov’d but they have reduc’d her almost to the grave her Lips are white as tho she had not a drop of blood in them—2
Nathan Hunt has been Sick above five weeks & is very low now. a Lung fever but the longest I ever head of I think it will prove a consumtion. colds & complaints of the Lungs are very common. every body almost has been & is now labouring under them. capn. Beal & mrs Beal are yet confin’d by a Severe cold. he kept his Bed Several days. mr Cranch has just caught his. I dread his having one—
I had a Letter yesterday dated the 8th of this month from wash. mrs Cranch was well. the children breeding teeth & very unwell & cross. my Son seting off for Baltimore to attend a Court She says he is in good Spirits has more business than he expected to have had in So short a time for he is but little known as a Lawyer but among his Friends I fear he does not speak enough tis that will make him known to the multitude
our other children are well. have you heard from yours lately mrs Smith how is she. I wish I could afford her any comfort. mrs Shaw does not rise in her character in Boston—
remember us affectionately to the President & Louissa / & accept the Love of your affectionate Sister
If you know any thing of mr James Greenleaf I will thank you to mention it nancy is very much destress’d about him as they have not heard any thing [for] Several weeks
RC (Adams Papers); addressed by Richard Cranch: “Mrs: Abigail Adams. / Philadelphia”; endorsed: “Jan’ry 2d / 1798.” Filmed at 2 Jan. 1798. Some loss of text where the seal was removed.
Likely Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody to AA, 6 Oct. 1797, above.
In her letter to AA of 14 Jan. 1798 (Adams Papers), Cranch reported that Polly Doble Howard Baxter had given birth to twin boys on 9 Jan., well before their expected due date in March. One died the same day; the other lived until 18 Jan. (vol. 7:92; Sprague, Braintree Families
).