My dearest Friend

Yours of December 14th. [Abigail to John, 14 December 1793] was Just now brought to me. I wrote you from Hartford, and from New York, and on the 30th. of November from Philadelphia and almost every day Since, certainly once or twice every Week.

I thank your Ladyship for your kind Attention to the little concerns of my Hobby Horse, and am perfectly satisfied with your Judgment and Care. I have too many Motives to compell my whole Attention to the Public, to find many Moments to think of my farm but when your letters remind me of it, they give no great Pleasure. You will e'er this day have been furnish'd with enough to think on. Congress are, in a long pause, employed in reading the Communications from the president and Executive Department which are extremely voluminous. The Advocates for Peace I hope will prevail and the Students in War be disappointed We shall now See, whether there will be a Party formally combind against their Country and the President, in favour of the intemperate Republicans of France, or not. The Popularity of our President never appeared to be more useful, more important or more decisive than at this time. The Antifederalists must now destroy that Popularity, and remove him from his office, or they cannot carry their Points at least so many of them as they aim at. Our Madmen however continue their Frolicks, and Still endevour to provoke all Europe against their Country, by their Toasts.

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If the Trespasses upon Ruggles's Lot, let Mr. Adams Sue him immediately in my Name as soon as he can be discovered, and Let him sue Wilson too, if he can find Proof I will make Examples of some of them.

I have read Columbus, and although it may be exposed to the Ridicule of employing a Beetle to kill a fly; it is masterly Course of Reasoning, in a Strain of Eloquence, which no other man in this Country that I know of is equal to. In this Place I hear nothing Said of it. All is Silence here. The Printers are both dastardly ignorant and Stupid, otherwise they would have reprinted this Work. Popularity is now in a great Puzzle. It must either be Whist or Change its tone, or Attack the President. It is afraid to do either of the last, as yet.

Mrs. Washington always desires me to present her Regards to you.

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[Endorsement -- see page image]