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Browsing: Adams Family Correspondence, Volume 4
Docno: ADMS-04-04-02-0152
Recipient: Adams, Abigail
Date: 1781-10-09
James Lovell to Abigail Adams
[dateline] Philada. Octr. 9th [1781]
Yesterday's Post brought me your Favour of Sepr. 26th.1 Your dear Boy Charles should most certainly have had half of the Bed of one of his
Father's devoted Friends here, if the Winds had so directed the Ship's Course in which he
is a Passenger; but I am told she is arrived at Falmouth in Casco Bay. I wish you
an happy Meeting with him. I shall be rejoyced to find that the Voyage has been beneficial
to his Constitution.
I have already given you the dates of Mr. A's Letters which came { 226 } by Newman: viz. May 16. July 11. 14. 15. Aug. 3d.2 In the 1st he says
“This Country is indeed in a melancholy Situation — sunk in Ease, devoted to the Pursuits
of Gain, over-shadowed on all sides by more powerful Neighbours, unanimated by a Love
of military Glory or any aspiring spirit, feeling little Enthusiasm for the Public,
terrified at the Loss of an old Friend and equally terrified at the Prospect of being
obliged to form Connexions with a new one, encumbered with a complicated and perplexed
Constitution, divided among themselves in Interest and Sentiment, they seem afraid
of every Thing. Success on the Part of France, Spain, and especially of America raises
their Spirits and advances the Good Cause some what; but Reverses seem to sink them
much more.” He adds “The War has occasioned such a Stagnation of Business and thrown
such Numbers of People out of Employment that I think it is impossible Things should
remain long in the present insipid state. One System or another will be pursued. One
Party or another will prevail; much will depend on the Events of the War. We have
one Security, and I fear but one; and that is the domineering Character of the English
who will make Peace with the Republic upon no other Terms than her joining them against
all their Enemies in the War; and This, I think, it is impossible she ever should
do.”
It is to be hoped that the Events of this Campaign will be such as to influence Holland
and even Britain to do us Justice. There has been a most severe Engagement on the
8th. of Sepr. in South Carolina.3 I think I shall be able to send a printed account to Boston by the Bearer of this.
It has been spoken of, here for some days; and this Evening Gen. Green's Thanks to
his Army are brought to Philada. by a Gentleman of good Character. It is said the
Enemy are Sufferers to the Amount of 1100 and our Army to 500. These Numbers being
for killed, wounded and missing.—In Virginia Things are proceeding surely and faster
than we had a Right to expect.
I have been chagrined about your Goods the last Week. I hoped to send them by two
different Opportunities being promised a Chance. I weighed them and bound the heaviest
with Iron Hoops ready for loading, but the Waggoners could not take the Charge. I
cannot without great Trouble and Injury to the Chest take out the white BroadCloth.
I will double my Diligence to send the Whole.
Your Attentions to Mrs. Lovell prejudice me so much in your Favour that I can let
you call me “queer” or any Thing else that hits your Fancy, provided always that you
do not call or even think me { 227 } deceitful when I profess myself with affectionate Respect Madam your Friend & humble Servant,
[signed] JL
Perhaps after my Profession of Respect it will [be] incongruous to hint that you also Madam are a “queer Being.” I verily believe you
would be willing to hear any one call your best Friend, “old Darby,” rather than to
hear it said he appears lively as Chesterfield. You talk of your Philosopher and his Dame. Why, Nothing was farther from my Intention than your sprightly Husband when I wrote
of your Philosopher. No, No, he is too modern to be adduced in the Reasoning I sent you. It was your “Antient,”
Ma'am, that had been held up to me as a Pattern, That Wiseacre, who, “had he lived
in the House or Family” &c. &c.
Take the Song of Darby and Joan in Hand and stand before your looking Glass to find
the Resemblance;—a pretty Dame Adams indeed!4
You “did not misapply Cornelia for Portia.” But, you did, most assuredly. “There was
no Fiction in the Story.” “The Dialogue really existed as related.” I supposed so;
and therefore all the little malicious Things I have written were intended [for] Cornelia and not for Portia.
Cite web page as: Founding Families: Digital Editions of the Papers of the Winthrops and the Adamses, ed.C. James Taylor. Boston: Massachusetts Historical Society, 2017.
http://www.masshist.org/apde2/
http://www.masshist.org/apde2/