Adams Family Correspondence, volume 13
1798] Monday Evening
we left Philadelphia on Wedensday last. the day preceeding was very
Hot a partial Rain had waterd the Roads for 15 or 20 miles So as to render the first
part of our journey pleasent. we were overtaken by showers—and detaind by them, but on
thursday we found clouds 221 of dust for want of
Rain. troops and calvacades did not lessen it, and the Heat was intolerably oppressive,
so much so as to nearly kill all our Horses, and oppress me to such a degree as to
Oblige me to stop twice in a few hours, and intirely undress myself & lie down on
the Bed. at night we could not get rest—small Rooms bad Beds & some Company obliged me to stretch my wearied Limbs upon the
floor upon a Bed not longer than one of my Bolsters. from twesday untill the afternoon
of this day, we have not had any respite from panting beneath the dog star. I never
sufferd so much in travelling before. the Rain I hope will cool the Air & enable us
to proceed, but I fear we shall not reach Quincy this week. mrs smith & little
Caroline will be of our Party1
it is a long time, Since I had a Line from you—near a fortnight before I left home. I had a Letter from your Son since I left Home.2 he writes me that he is well, and that his family are so. I wrote you inclosing to you a Hundred dollors which I hope You duly received, as I found it necessary to give you some trouble to procure me several articles.
If I can get time on the Road I shall write you as I progress onward. mrs smith desires to be kindly rememberd to you—so does your affectionate sister
RC (MWA:Abigail Adams Letters); addressed by JA: “Richard Cranch
Esqr / Postmaster / Quincy”; endorsed by Richard Cranch:
“Letter from / Mrs. A: Adams / East Chester July 29.”;
notation by JA: “J. Adams.”
AA and JA left Philadelphia without
notice on the morning of 25 July. They arrived in New York City on the evening of 27
July and continued on to Eastchester, N.Y., where they collected AA2 and
Caroline Amelia Smith. The group arrived in Quincy on the evening of 8 Aug., escorted
for the last few miles by the Boston Cavalry and a large group of citizens (Timothy
Pickering to CA, 25 July, MHi:Pickering
Papers; Boston Columbian Centinel, 4 Aug.; Boston Russell’s Gazette, 9 Aug.).
Cranch’s last extant letter to AA was that of [7 July], above. The letter from William Cranch has not been found.
I wrote you on the 14 of February a letter, which I am informed you have received, but to which no answer from you has yet reached me.1 Nor have I since it was written received a line from you.
I must again repeat the request that you would give me immediate information concerning the property which I have entrusted to you.
I have also to request that you would not draw upon Messrs:
222 Willing of Amsterdam, for any further sums on my
account, as I hereby withdraw all power & authority that I have heretofore given you
to draw for money in my behalf.
You will also cease to make any further payments of money belonging
to me to Dr: Welsh.—2 But you will untill further order from me, remit
the interests payable upon my property in your hands, to my mother.
I am still your affectionate Brother.
LbC in TBA’s hand (Adams Papers); internal address: “Mr: Charles Adams”; APM Reel 133.
Vol. 12:400–401.
JQA also wrote Thomas Welsh on 1 Aug., stating that he had learned “by letters from America of the misfortune, which has befallen you” and requesting an immediate report on the property he had left in Welsh’s care. JQA expressed confidence that his property was safe but likewise countermanded Welsh’s authorization to draw upon Wilhem & Jan Willink (LbC, APM Reel 133).