Adams Family Correspondence, volume 12
I know you will rejoice to hear that we are so far on our journey
without meeting any accident my Quincy Friends and Neighbours who accompanied us as far
as Westown could tell you that they parted with us in as good Spirits, as the peculiar
circumstances which preceeded our leaving home would admit. we reachd Williams’s and
lodgd there.1 it was fortunate that mr
Brisler was with his wife, for in the Night she was taken with one of her sick turns,
and was ill all night and part of the next day. Worry and fatigue had brought on, what
would have taken place without it as Soon as the Hot weather commenced. having
effectually cleard her stomack, I hope she will proceed without any further
inconvenience. the next day we reachd Worcester to dine, and Brookfield to lodge. how we
got to springfield to night, is not worth Your while to inquire. the Attorney Generall
will not present us I presume, as we caught him on the Road, returning from Northhampton
Court.2 but with a Family of thirteen
persons it behoves us to get on as fast as we can, particularly when I consider my
detention, and how necessary to the Wheels of the
Presidents Family Brisler is. my Thoughts are continually like Noahs Dove, returning to
the Ark I have left.
Whether like that I shall return no more, must be left with that Being, in whose hands my Breath is. I consider myself following where Duty leads and trust the Event.
”]3
Such appears, to me the situation in which I am placed, enviable no doubt, in the Eyes of Some, but never envy’d or coveted by me. that I may discharge my part with honour, and give satisfaction is my most earnest wish.
My kindest regards await my Friends, particularly to Brother Cranch. Love to my Dear Eliza. I hope she will not let her spirits 100 faint or sink under her bereavement. how consolutary the reflection, that whom the Lord loveth, he chastneth
You have the consolation of knowing that no part of your duty was omitted. all that the tenderest Love and kindest affection could do or perform was done by You, for the Dear Girl whose loss we mourn this with her dying Breath she bore witness too.4
Let mrs Howard know that Betsy stands her journey pretty well5 the other Girls are very well. I forgot to mention to mr Porter to attend to the first catipillar webb and take them of as soon as they appear. pray send him word. I see they are beginning upon the Road—
RC (MWA:Abigail Adams Letters); endorsed by Richard Cranch: “Letter from Mrs / A Adams, Spring- / field, Apl. 30 1797.” Some loss of text due to a cut manuscript.
George Williams (1736–1813) was the proprietor of the Williams
Tavern in Marlborough, Mass. (Ella A. Bigelow, Historical
Reminiscences of the Early Times in Marlborough, Massachusetts, Marlborough,
Mass., 1910, p. 25–26; Charles Hudson, History of the Town of
Marlborough … with a Brief Sketch of the Town of Northborough, Boston, 1862, p.
469, 470).
The Supreme Judicial Court was held at Northampton, Mass., on the
last Tuesday in April and the fourth Tuesday in September. As attorney general, James
Sullivan would have attended the spring court on 25 April (Mass., Acts and Laws
,
1792–1793, p. 497–498).
Edward Young, The Complaint; or, Night
Thoughts, Night I, lines 327–334.
A portion of the RC is cut away at this point comprising approximately one-third of the third page.
Jerusha Field Howard (ca. 1747–1825) was the mother of Betsy and
Polly Doble Howard (Sprague, Braintree Families
).