Adams Family Correspondence, volume 13

Abigail Adams to Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody, 7 April 1799 Adams, Abigail Peabody, Elizabeth Smith Shaw

Abigail Adams to Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody

my dear sister Quincy April 7th 1799

This Letter will be deliverd to you by your son whom you will find improved in his Health, greatly I think— the weather has been so very bad—and the Roads almost impassiable Since his return, so that it has not been practicable to make you an earlier visit.1

I have been very anxious for your dear little Girl, whom I have frequently heard an unfavourable account of, but miss Palmers last Letter has in Some measure relieved my mind;2 I wish to know if you have had Blisters applied to her wrists. I have seen very good Effects produced by them in these slow intermitting fevers—and they might stimulate the circulation in her lame arm—so as to be benificial to it—

The President returnd earlier than I expected and in better Health, than I feard he would; from the close application he was obliged to give to Buisness for four months together; and he has sustaind the whole force of an unpopular measure which he knew would excite the passions of many; thwart the views of some; and shower down upon his Head a torrent of invective; Produced by Ignorance Malevolence & Jealousy yet thinking as he did, the measure necessary, and upon grounds which it was not proper to devulge, if to our own Country, not to others—and if to one, it would necessarily go to others— he took the step; and braved the effect. as he expected, he has been abused and calumniated—by his Enemies.— that was to be lookd for—but in the House of his Friends, by those calling them selves, friends of their Country—they have joind loudest in the Clamour— they have not however dismay’d him—and time and circumstances will prove who has been Right—

we should hold the sword in one hand and the olive Branch in the other.

I have not my dear sister any of the peices you sent for. as the Winter was so far expired we have made William up half a dozen linnen shirts, & those which he has, john may take. I will prepare cotton for them against an other Winter. I believe they had better come in May 451 to be fixd for the summer. April will be rather too early, but if you think it best, they can come with mr shaw when he returns—

Sister Cranch has been very unwell for this fortnight with a turn of the Rhumatism in her Back— she has been confined to her Chamber some days with it & in great pain. I hope it is going off—

our Good Friend dr Tufts is unwell also a pain in his Breast, and a bad Cough—I fear Hecticly3 inclined he has been failing every spring for several years—

I am better in Health than I have been, tho very liable to ill turns. I flatter myself that I shall make you a visit this spring. my dear Thomas leaves me tomorrow, much mortified that he could not make you a visit first, but he has made his apology in a Letter to you—4

My kind Regards to mr Peabody in which the President joins me. Love to my dear abbe and to my Grandsons— to miss Palmer I present my Regards— / and am your ever affectionate / Sister

Abigail Adams

RC (DLC:Shaw Family Papers); addressed: “Mrs Elizabeth Peabody / Atkinson”; endorsed: “April 7th. 1799”; docketed: “Apl 7 ’99.”

JA and William Smith Shaw departed Philadelphia for Quincy on 12 March and arrived on the 23d (Philadelphia Gazette of the United States, 13 March; Boston Russell’s Gazette, 25 March).

Not found.

A fever accompanying consumption ( OED ).

Not found.

Mary Smith Gray Otis to Abigail Adams, 11 April 1799 Otis, Mary Smith Gray Adams, Abigail

Mary Smith Gray Otis to Abigail Adams

Dear Mrs Adams Philadelphia April 11th. 99

It was with much pleasure I yesterday received yours of 1st instant, as it was an assurence of your better health, I hope the return of Spring will bring to you renewed health & strength, but it is needful for your friends to caution you, as you partake too much of the spirit of Martha & are apt to be too careful & encumbared about many things.1 The Presidents being at home, will bring more company to your house, & of course you will exert yourself too much I fear: I congratulate you on his return & doubt not he enjoys more peace & tranquility of mind than he has for some months past, he must have suffered much, having left you in so weak a state. The illnatured ones are not willing to allow that even a sick wife should have carried him of so suddenly from this city.2

In answer to your request, I can only say, nothing would give Mr Otis & myself more pleasure, than rendering you or Mr Adams any 452 gratification in our power, but, as we never contemplated staying in town after the warm weather, we have made arrangments for leaving the city early in the season. Even if no new alarm takes place, keeping ourselves ready to move off at short warning: under these circumstances we shall be happy in Mr Adams company so long as we tarry in town. Tho there is no present appearence of pestilence the season is so cold, yet the fears & apprehensions of every one, are so alive, lest when the hot weather setts in, the same calamity should return, that I suppose their is not a family who have it in their power to secure a retreat, but what have done it.— I think it would be most adviseable for Mr A— to get lodgings, somewhere out of town, & come in every day if his business required it.— It is probable we shall move eastward but have not determined where to fix our quarters.

The public movements you have better information of than I can give, but an extraordinary thing took place the last night, nothing less, than Miss Binghams elopement with Count Tilly, exprese’s are sent in all directions after them, I have not herd any perticulars of this extraordinary affair. The french seem determined to introduce all their fashions amongst us.—

Mr Otis joins in respects to you & the President. Harriet & Mary thank you, for your kind remembranc of them, with love to Louisa from / Your Affect Friend

M Otis

Miss B— was found this [morng] with the Count, at Mrs Jones the [. . . .] the corner of 7 Street they say, they were marrie[d by Mr Jon]es3

RC (Adams Papers); addressed: “Mrs Adams / Quincy”; endorsed: “Mrs otis / April 11 / 1799.” Some loss of text where the seal was removed.

Luke, 10:38–42.

The Philadelphia Aurora General Advertiser, 27 March, criticized JA’s departure for Quincy amid “alarms, insurrections, military movements &c.”

Maria Matilda Bingham (1783–1852), the daughter of William and Anne Willing Bingham, eloped with Comte Jacques Pierre Alexandre de Tilly (1764–1816). The couple were married by Rev. Thomas Jones (ca. 1763–1846), who resided on South Fifth Street in Philadelphia with his wife, Sophia Newell Jones (ca. 1766–1850). On 17 Jan. 1800 William Bingham secured an annulment of the marriage after paying Tilly £5,000 with an annuity of £500 to leave the United States, prompting TBA to remark, “So much—for abargain in a Wife.” Maria Bingham twice remarried and eventually settled in France ( ANB , entry on Anne Willing Bingham; Charles P. Keith, The Provincial Councillors of Pennsylvania, Phila., 1883, p. 96; Margaret L. Brown, “Mr. and Mrs. William Bingham of Philadelphia: Rulers of the Republican Court,” PMHB , 61:319–320 [July 1937]; Hoefer, Nouv. biog. générale ; New York Evening Post, 24 Aug. 1846; Philadelphia Directory , 1798, p. 80, Evans, No. 34593; John J. Babson, History of the Town of Gloucester, Cape Ann, Gloucester, Mass., 1860, p. 483 ; Papers of William Thornton, ed. C. M. Harris and Daniel Preston, Charlottesville, Va., 1995, p. 499; TBA, Diary, 1798–1799, 14 June 1799).