Adams Family Correspondence, volume 13
br18 1798
By the post of yesterday I received your two Letters, one from Brookfeild and one from Suffeild1 I rejoiced in your rapid progress as the Weather was so fine but I mournd for mrs smith, Who I knew was following you with all speed, but I fear from your rapid movement did not overtake you untill last night, if then. by a Letter which came yesterday to her from her sister Clarkson which I ventured to open:2 I am sure she judged right in going on, tho it leaves me more lonely than I could wish I could not have enjoyd her company whilst she approhend any censure could fall upon her; her struggle was hard between her two duties. I decided for her. I knew for her peace of mind, tho she earnestly desired to remain with me. I shall want to hear when and where she overtook you. I have 278 written you twice, and addrest my Letters to N york to the care of Charles, hoping you would get them when you reachd that city.
my Health is much as it was the third day I have the intermitting & a sleepless night but I get two Nights of pretty good Sleep. I must find out something if I can to rid me of so troublesome a companion, for it destroys in one night all I acquire of Health and strength the preceeding ones—and it cramps and dejects my spirits in a very great degree. I however strive to throw it of and engage in the Family affairs so as to amuse my mind, yet melancholy thoughts will frequently get the better of me. I hope however to reconcile myself to the solitary lot of absence better in a few weeks than at present. Cousin Betsy was married here on thursday, and went to Boston the next morning to Housekeeping. I did not mention it to you before you went away least you should think I should make some exertion and injure my Health, but I did not. We had only a small Number of the nearest connextions, and I stayd in my chamber untill after Tea, and retired to it again soon after they were married. Mr Foster being one of dr ackeley parisioners he ventured to Marry him, tho out of his own Limits, and Sister Peabody was desirious of seeing her married before she returnd home.3 they both left me on fryday morning, and here sit Louissa & I looking at each other, and now and then wishing for little caroline to enliven the scene— our Pleasure was much alloyd by the sickness of Brother Cranch & the concequent absence both of him and sister Cranch. Mrs Tufts was the only lively spirit with us—
mrs Peabody was at Grenoughs, and he lamented very much that you had gone without his seeing you again as he thought he could have renderd you much easier after trial. he expected you would have call’d again upon him, say’d that he was not able to do so well as he should have been, if he had not been so afflicted with his Eyes—4 I am affraid you must have sufferd an inconvenience from the motion of the Carriage, as you was not Sufficiently innured
Mr Porter will attned to your orders as soon as possible, but the vessel with the Lumber is just arrived and must be attended to directly. I inclose with this, Letters, received by the last Mail. you will find one addrest to me and will consider the subject if attended with proper recommendations—5
Your ever affectionate
Present my Respects to Genll Washington with thanks for his & mrs Washingtons kind wishes as exprest in his Letter to you—7
RC (Adams Papers); addressed: “The / President United / States / Philadelphia”;
endorsed by William Smith Shaw: “Mrs. Adams / received 27th of Dec.”
JA’s letters from Brookfield, Mass., and Suffield, Conn., dated 13 and 14 Nov., respectively, reported the progress of his journey and his complaint of a toothache (both Adams Papers).
There are no extant letters between Belinda Smith Clarkson and AA2.
Rev. Joseph Eckley (1750–1811), Princeton D.D. 1793, was the
London-born pastor of Boston’s Old South Church (vol. 7:162;
Princetonians
,
2:206–209).
Likely David Stoddard Greenough (1752–1826), a merchant and
lawyer who lived in Roxbury (Hamilton Perkins Greenough, Some
Descendants of Captain William Greenough of Boston, Massachusetts, Santa
Barbara, Calif., 1969, p. 57; Massachusetts Mercury, 10
Oct. 1800).
Not found.
AA wrote again to JA on 22 Nov. 1798 updating him on her health and that of Richard Cranch. She also reported that a recent storm was delaying delivery of the lumber (Adams Papers).
In a letter to JA of 21 Oct., George Washington expressed his and Martha Washington’s concern for AA’s health. He also commented on candidates for adjutant general (Adams Papers).
br18 1798
when this reaches you I presume you will have arivd to the end of your journey, and have taken possession of your office, where I trust you will be usefull—and I hope happy— I find the publick offices are removed, from Trentown.1 I judge your uncle will proceed immediatly to Philadelphia. I have not had a line from mr Brisler for more than a month. I hope if he and his Family are safe returnd, that he will write to me immediatly, as I shall want to learn from him many things respecting the Family, and particuliarly whether he received safe the Letters I wrote him respecting the wine—2
on the Thursday as was proposed, after you left me, Mr Foster was
married to miss Betsy Smith, there been present mr Fosters mother, two sisters, and a
cousin, sister smith Dr and mrs Tufts, cousin Betsy smith of Weymouth Boston, your Mamma, and the Revd dr Ackly who
performd the service, in a very solemn & pathetic manner3 they came out early in the afternoon took Tea
with me about seven the ceremony was performd; and before nine they returnd to Boston.
Betsy conducted herself with much ease and propriety. so did mr Foster who is a modest
well behaved Gentlemanly young Man. I rejoice to find that Betsy is so agreably
connected, for tho I have known mr Foster from others, I never had an opportunity of
conversing with him untill a few Evenings before he was married.
Your Mother went into Boston with her the next day, on fryday; and preposed reaching Home yesterday Saturday. mr Peabody tarried for her in Town—
280Your uncle Cranch has been very sick ever since you went away. mr Porter watchd with him last night, and brings me word that he is rather better this morning—
I inclose to you the list of your Cloaths which you left.4 mr Fenno must send me his paper and You must put up Claypoles and send me. let mr Brisler subscribe to mr Fenno for me. you must write to me and tell me your observations upon the Country and what ever you met with amusing. I should not feel so lonely if I could read, but I cannot but for a short time—
I am my dear Nephew / your affectionate
RC (DLC:Shaw Family Papers); addressed: “Mr William S Shaw / Philadelphia”; endorsed: “Mrs Adams. / Answered.”; docketed: “1798 / Nov 18.”
The Massachusetts Mercury, 16 Nov.,
and Boston Columbian Centinel, 17 Nov., both reported
that government offices had returned to Philadelphia from Trenton, N.J., as the city
was deemed safe from yellow fever.
Not found, but see Shaw to AA, 25 Nov., below.
James Hiller Foster was the son of Elizabeth Hiller Foster (ca.
1748–1806); he had five sisters: Mary Ann, Abigail, Elizabeth, Margaret, and Lydia
(Frederick Clifton Pierce, Foster Genealogy, 1 vol. in 2,
Chicago, 1899, 1:214; Boston Democrat, 5 Nov. 1806).
Enclosure not found.
Shaw replied to AA on 5 Dec. 1798, writing that news of her improving health had cheered him and JA and commenting on the recently published letter from Joel Barlow to Abraham Baldwin (Adams Papers).