My Dearest Friend

Inclosed is a Letter unseald. You will read it, and if you approve it, be so good as to seal and deliver it.

We get no Letters of late date from our sons. These Treaty breaking Frenchmen take every vessel. What is to be done with them?

The spring approaches. Mr. Cranch will wish for your decision soon. I was going to write something, but I believe on second thought I had better not. No Letters from you later than the 23d [John to Abigail, 23 January 1797] . I wrote you Yesterday. Yours affectionatly