[dateline] December 15 1778
[salute] My dear Son
I have a very bad soar finger and it pains me to write, yet a few lines I must write
to my dear son to tell him that he is never forgotton by his Mamma, tho he does not
receive a Letter every time his pappa does.
Many Letters to and from you are lost I make no doubt or I should certainly hear oftner.
Barns by whom you say you wrote a very long Letter has not arrived and is supposed
to be lost or taken. The 27 of August is the Latest date I have received from your
pappa, and that was brought by Mr. Ingersol.
There is no present half so acceptable as Letters from my dear absent Friends. I long
for them with an impatience that I find difficult to restrain. You have been very
good in writing, but are not so perticular as I wish you was.
Your Sister and Brothers are well and have lately wrote to you,
1 your Grandpapa and Grandmamma are well and desire to be rememberd to you. Let Stevens
know that his Friends are well, and that he has a son about 6 weeks old, suppose his
conscience will tell him who the Mother is.
Nothing New has taken place with us since the French Fleet saild, except a British
ship the Somerset, being wrecked upon the cape. The capt[ain] and most of the Men were saved and are prisoners. The Guns were saved and many other
valuable Effects.
It has been a very tempestous fall, many of the severest storms I ever knew, and a
very cold winter threatens us. The climate of France is more temperate than that of
America. Your sister longs to make a voyage there, if she was of the other sex I should
encourage her, and perhaps send her in the New frigate call'd the Alliance which will
bring this to you. Gen'll. Warrens son is Lieut. of Marines on Board, and I have heard
the Marquiss Fayet designs going home in her if he leaves America her Blessing will
follow him,
2 for he is much Esteemed here, and may he reap in his own country the Lawrels he has
merritted here.
[salute] I am my dear Son with affection and regard your Mamma,
[signed] Abigail Adams