Adams Family Correspondence, volume 12
th1797
I have recieved your letter of the 13th, my beloved friend, it is impossible to express the delight I experienced, when
I read the welcome tidings it conveyed
yes my Dearest friend, should you find it practicable, I will with pleasure attend—you—my whole life shall be devoted to render you happy, and I trust in time, it will be in my power to convince you, that I am far from wishing to interrupt your studies, Too great an anxiety for your health induced me to write what has so much offended you, I have so often committed these faults lately, that whenever I write you, I feel a sort of fear, lest I should inadvertently repeat them
I will say no more on this subject my Adams, your letter conveyed such pleasing intelligence, I cannot dwell on the latter part of it— I only fear that something will happen to prevent our meeting, and I scarcely dare encourage the flattering hope, lest I should again be disappointed— I shewed my father that part of your letter, wherein you mention the probability of your return he told me he would write you by this opportunity
89Ah my friend, it was in my last letter I said, that I was more reconciled to our lengthened seperation but the pleasure I now feel, fully convinces me how much I shall suffer, should we at last be doomed to seperate— my last disappointment has taught me to fear, and I find it almost impossible to check my apprehensions—
All the family desire to be remembered—
Farewell my best friend, believe me sincerely yours,
RC (Adams Papers).
th.— 1797
I feel as if I were My worthy friend, Compel’d to write a few lines
to you in this uncommon hour of distressing events that await you. Tho’ what you wished
with respect to one of the deceased has happen’d—Yet Not the less affecting I am sure—
Your Mind I think Must be freed from a Charge that Seem’d to dewell heavy upon you— when
I last had the Satisfaction of Seeing You— at this Moment the World Seems dyeing around you—and as the
following lines aptly speak My sentiments upon the Melancholy Accation—I hope to be
excused from transcribing them.—
Stella’sbreast.
Stellaraise her wishes high!
”]1
To the Amiable Louisa and her friends I wish every consolation in this hour of their Afflection, And with a Sympathetic heart petition that these light Afflections May Yeild them a far More exceeding and an eternal weight of Glory.
I hope My good friend has e’er this heard of the restored health of the President. and that amidest her present troubles, his want of health is Not to be added—
Tho’ our Social Circle here cannot be compleat without You My dear friend, Yet you have the warmest wishes of your friends that you May Soon join the partner of your joys and Sorrows, and by the Mutual exchange of each reap pleasures that cannot be procured while seprate.
Here Suffer Me to add, (however painful the Idea that I May Never
See either of you again) My constant wishes will attend you through the Thorny Path—and flowery way, that each May as you ever have
done—exhibit a pure example in every Situation worthy to be
imitated by all that May be call’d to the like conspicuou[. . . .]
And Now dear Madam be asured [that] My best friend, with My Children, join me in offers of every Sentiment proper to be transmitted to the friends we So Much esteem.
And believe me as ever / Your Attached
P S The Young Ladies desire love to Miss Smith—2
RC (Adams
Papers); addressed: “Mrs A Adams. / Quincy”;
internal address: “Mrs. Adams—”; endorsed: “Mrs Storer
24th / April 1797.” Some loss of text where the seal was removed.
Anne Steele, “To Silvia,” Miscellaneous
Pieces, in Verse and Prose, by Theodosia, Bristol, Eng., 1780, p. 97–98.
That is, Storer’s daughters—Hannah, Anna, and Susan—for whom see vol. 8:286.