Philadelphia
January 6. 1794
My dearest Friend
The Door Keeper has just brought me
your kind Letter of Decr.
28
[Abigail to John, 28 December 1793]
.
Freneau's Paper is discontinued and
Fenno's is become a daily advertising Paper and has not yet
been worth sending you. The State Papers will be reprinted in
Rusells Paper which you have and there has been nothing else
worth reading. I send you the Negotiations with Genet,
inclosed.
The Algerines will cost this country very dear. We may curse them, as much
as We please and fight them as long as We will and after all We must advance
them the Cash. This has been long my Opinion but I could not be believed. We
may rave against the English and Spaniards: but We had better learn better
manners than wantonly to insult and provoke Nations who have Power to hurt
Us.
Genet has not appeared at the Levee: but he made me a Visit
in Ceremony, soon after he came to Town, which I returned the second day
afterwards.
Page 2
Jefferson went off Yesterday,
and a good riddance of bad ware. I hope his Temper will be more cool and his
Principles more reasonable in Retirement than they have been in office. I am
almost tempted to wish he may be chosen Vice President at the next Election for
there
he could do neither good nor harm if he could do no good,
he could do no harm. He has Talents I know, and Integrity I believe: but
his mind is now poisoned with Passion Prejudice and Faction. You have drawn an
affecting Picture of Distress in the Family of Dr. Rhoads. How
it is possible for People to marry and proceed to getting a Brood of Children
without any means of support, I know not. A more imprudent
Enterprize never was undertaken than the Removal
of that Family to
Braintree, and after they came there, they never took a Step,
which common Sense would have dictated to get into Business. I hope however you
will contribute as much as you can to alleviate her Distress. My imagination
has often painted to me exactly such a Picture in a Case of our silly
Charles,
who was once in a fair Way to have
raised as happy a family but who I hope is grown wiser.
He You
ought to have written the history of Mrs. Rhoads and her
Children to him.
Page 3
We have had a cold day or two: but the Weather is
now as beautiful as it was last winter. I think it is not quite so warm and
therefore I hope will not lay a foundation for another summer like the last. We
have no News of Cheesman. Brisler wants his
Cloaths more than I do, mine.
Columbus has been reprinted in several Papers in
New York but not yet in this City. Parties run high in
South Carolina. A Mr. S. Drayton has published
a curious Narration of his own Sufferings but has not even denied the Fact of
which he was charged. My New Mans Address has it
At home dissentions seem to rend
Or threat, our Infant State
'Bout Treaties made; yet unexplain'd
With Citizen Genet.
The People in general are wise, upright, firm and steady: But There are
little groups of Wrongheads in every principal Town.
I am with ardent Wishes and fervent Prayers for your health yours
J A
Page 4
[Endorsement -- see page image]
