Docno: ADMS-04-04-02-0192
Author: Adams, Abigail
Recipient: Shaw, Elizabeth Smith
Recipient: Peabody, Elizabeth Smith Shaw
DateRange: 1782-02 - 1782-03
[dateline] [Braintree, February–March 17821]
[salute] My dear sister
I yesterday received a congratulatory Letter from you,
2 upon the safe arrival of my dear Charles, an event which has relieved me from many
anxieties and filld my Heart with gratitude to that gracious Being who protected him
from the perils of the deep, and from the hostile foe, who raised him from Sickness
and has restored him to his Native Land, undepraved in his mind and morals, by the
facinating allurements of vice, decked in Foreign garbs—and this I assure you I esteem
not among the least favours with which his absence has been distinguished.
The fond Mother would tell you that you may find in him the
{ 285 } same solid sober discreet Qualities that he carried abroad with a modesty bordering
upon diffidence, no ways inclined to relate his adventures but as you question him
concerning them—perfectly attached to the modest republican Stile of Life, as tho
he had never experienced any other. As to any alteration in his person, I perceive
none but growth which has not been rapid. If no unforeseen disaster prevents I hope
to bring him to visit you in the course of the Spring. He desires his duty to you,
and love to his unknown cousins.
I wrote you a long Letter a months ago,
3 but thought to coppy it as it was very carelessly written. I was that Night calld
to attend the Sick and I greatly feared dying Bed of our worthy Brother Cranch. For
ten days I beheld him in this critical state. Encompassed with my own anxiety, and
the anguish of his whole family, I was greatly distresst. Gracious Heaven has restored
the good Man to his family and Friends who were trembling least he should cease to
be and the faithfull faill
4 from among the children of Men. Whilst I attended round his Bed, I could not avoid
often looking abroad and in imagination beholding my dearest Friend laid upon his
sick Bed unattended by the wife, the sister or daughter, whose constant and solicitous
care and attention might mitigate the riggour of the fever, and alleviate the pain—but
with strangers and in a foreign Land my dear Friend has experienced a most severe
sickness. In November he wrote to Charles in Bilboa
5 that he was recovering from a fever which had left him very weak and lame, and this
is the latest intelligence I have received.
You may well suppose me anxious. My Heart sometimes misgives me. I long yet fear to
hear. I have one only confidence to repair to. Shall not the judge of all the earth
do right and have I not experienced signal favours—shall I distrust his providentiall
care?
I am sorry to hear you complain as the Spring approaches. You have but a slender constitution.
I would advise you to a free use of the Bark and a journey. I hope you are not in
the increasing way, as I think your Health ill able to bear it. We have none of us
nursing constitutions—twice my life was nearly sacrificed to it.
Is our intelligence true that you are like to have cousin B——y
6 for a Neighbour. I hope it will prove for her happiness and then I shall most sincerely
rejoice in it. Mrs. Gray is like soon to confirm the observation that there scarce
was ever any such thing under the Sun as an inconsolable widow. Grief is no incurable
disease; but time, patience and a little philosophy with the help of humane fraility
and address will do the Buisness. She is however like to be
{ 286 } joined to one of the most amiable of Men, which is too great a temptation to be over
balanced by the Sum total of 5 children.
7
Let me hear from you oftner my Sister. I really am conscience smitten at my neglect.
A Good example will awaken my future attention and produce the consequent reformation
of your ever affectionate Sister,