Adams Family Correspondence, volume 14
th1800
By Major Toussard, we had the pleasure to hear of your being at Scotch plains in health, and of your being escorted a few miles from thence by some of the officers. By a letter from Malcom, […] heard of your arrival at N York, & of your intention to leave that city on Saturday Morn.1 I presume by the time, this can reach Brookfield, you will be there— I shall direct it, under cover to Mr. Foster, as you desired
As the president contemplates setting out early in
the Morning on his journey, he anticipated tomorrow’s mail, this
evening, which brought him, your letter from N. York, for which he
thanks you and would answer it, had he a moments time.2 To be sure, vulgar report
circulated quite currently, that the President had appointed Col Burr
Secretary of War—that both he & the V. Pt. had declined, being
considered candidates for another election &c. &c. &c. I
have reason for suspecting, that the report originated from W. M.
S.—3 The same mail
brought a letter from Dr. Tufts—he writes, that the house is
covered—windows up—chimneys built—partitions made &c.—that the
garden is put in very good order—that the flour & other articles
which you sent from this city are all arrived—4 I received a letter from Mr.
Smith, dated Boston 20th May—they arrived at
[. . . .] day before all very well.—writes nothing new.5 Mr. T. B. A. has not y[et
retur]ned nor have we heard a word from him 259 since you left us.— Mrs Brisler
has been very unwell but is much better.— Your likness has attracted
much company to Stewarts and has as many admirers as spectators.6 Stewart says, he wishes
to god, he could have taken Mrs. Adams when she was young, he believes
he should have a perfect Venus—the P——t says, So She would.
With respect I am my dear Aunt, your affectionate nephew
Love to L.
RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “Mrs. Adams.” Some loss of text where the seal was removed.
The letters have not been found, but on 23 May JA asked Samuel Bayard Malcom to inform him when AA passed through New York City (LbC, APM Reel 120).
AA to JA, 23 May, above.
Probably William Moore Smith (1759–1821), University
of Pennsylvania 1775, a Philadelphia lawyer who served on the
Anglo-American claims commission. JA later named Smith
among those engaging in “subterranean intrigues” before the presidential
election of 1800 (University of Pennsylvania:
Biographical Catalogue of the Matriculates of the College,
Phila., 1894, p. 19; Samuel Kettell, Specimens
of American Poetry, 3 vols., Boston, 1829, 1:305–306;
JA to William Cunningham Jr., 7 Nov. 1808,
LbC, APM Reel 118).
Cotton Tufts to JA, 20 May 1800, above.
Not found.
For Gilbert Stuart’s portrait of AA, see Descriptive List of Illustrations, No. 6, above.
Norwalk State of Conneticut
detained here by a cold North East rain, I write to inform You I am thus far on My journey to Quincy 100 44 miles from Philadelphia which I left this Day week in the afternoon; I tarried one day in Nyork and have taken Little susan on with me— I went to the incampment upon scotch plains and lodged one night in the col’s Log House, which I found quite a comfortable habitation. Mrs smith was there, tho she soon must quit it, as the Army is disbanded. I should have taken her with Me, but she was not quite ready I brought Caroline on to her Grandmamma Smiths. she has taken a House at Newark in the Jersies— the col talks of going up with his Brother to the Miami.1 in that case mrs Smith and caroline will spend the summer with Me. I was present at the Review of the Troops by Gen’ll Hamilton who had come on for the purpose. they did great honor to their officers and to themselves. the Col has been the Principle hand in forming and disciplining them; they need not be asshamed of appearing before regular troops. the officers & Men Respect and Love him, and it is with much pain that they seperate; 260 there is a very general feeling exprest for col smiths situation, and a wish that he might receive some appointment: this is a very Delicate subject: I hope however that he will get into some buisness— you may be sure that I have my feelings on this subject and that they are not of the Most consolatary kind— every soul knows its own bitterness— I wish I had no other source of sorrow than that which I have just named— my mind is not in the most cheerfull State. trials of various kinds Seem to be reserved for our gray Hairs, for our declining years.— shall I receive good and not evil? I will not forget the blessings which Sweeten Life one of those is the prospect I have before me of Meeting my Dear sister soon, I hope in health and spirits— a strong immagination is said to be a refuge from Sorrow, and a kindly solace for a feeling Heart. Upon this principle it was that Pope founded his observation, that “hope springs eternal in the human breast”2
My intention was to reach Home on fryday next but the
Election Storm as we term it with us, may continue and prevent my making the
progress I hope to. I will request you to have the House open and aired, the
Beds Shook up. if there was time and a fine day I should like to have them
Sun’d as they have not been slept in for a
long time— I have not heard from Philadelphia but once since I left it. I do
not yet know whether the President has left it. I have heard of so Many lies
and falshoods propagated to answer Electioneering purposes since I left
Philadelphia, and for the last three weeks that I was there, that I am
Disgusted with the world and the chief of its inhabitants do not appear
worth the trouble and pains they cost to save them from Destruction— you see
I am in an ill humour. when the rain subsides and the sun shines, it will
dispell some of the gloom which hangs heavey at my heart. I heard a sermon
yesterday upon the subject of Humility— I believe I do not yet possess
enough of that negative quality to make me believe that I deserve all that
can be inflicted upon me by the tongues of falshood— I must share in what is
Said reproachfull or malicious of my better half— yet I know his measures
are all Meant to promote the best interest of his Country— Sure I have
enough of public and Private anxiety to humble a prouder Heart than mine
adieu my Dear sister / and believe me / ever your affectionate / sister—
RC (MWA:Abigail Adams Letters); addressed: “Mrs.
Mary Cranch / Quincy—”; endorsed by Richard Cranch: “Letter from Mrs. / A Adams May: 26th. / 1800. from Norwich.”
WSS’s plans to return west were superseded by JA’s appointment of him as surveyor and inspector of the port of New York, for which see AA to JQA, 1 Sept., and note 1, below. For his longstanding interest in western lands, see vol. 12:105.
Alexander Pope, An Essay on
Man, Epistle I, line 95.