Adams Family Correspondence, volume 14

Abigail Adams to John Adams, 11 November 1800 Adams, Abigail Adams, John

Abigail Adams to John Adams

my dearest Friend Philadelphia Nov’br 11th 1800

I reachd this city, on Sunday Evening, and have Waited one day to rest Myself and Horses. My health is but feeble and a little over fatigue deprives Me of My rest— I shall sit off this morning, but cannot make More than 25 or 30 miles a day. I shall endeavour to reach Washington on saturday if the Weather will permit. it would be an ease to the horses if Curry could come half way to Baltimore and take Me in the Chariot. Thomas accompanies me— I received Your Letter when I arrived here which was the first line I have got 438 since you left me—tho I have regularly followd you in your stages & heard of your Health & good Spirits with pleasure—1 I have twice heard from Brother Cranch, who writes me that my dear sister and family are getting better, tho slowly.2 Still new cases arise in the neighbourhood.—

I met upon my jouney at sax’s the polite Letter of the Gen’lls and had no reason to Make the exclamation of, “oh that mine Enemy had Written a Book”3 a Book it is as Wise and judicious as the former Precious confessions and will produce upon the public mind an effect exactly the reverse of what was intended—

My Girls I hope arrived safe— You will not make a congress on Monday very few of our Eastern Members have yet come on—4 with the hopes of meeting you in health at the time named I am your ever affectionate

A A

RC (Adams Papers); addressed by TBA: “The President of the United States / City of Washingn:”; docketed: “A A to J A Nov 11th / 1800”; notation by CFA: “Novr 11. 1800.”; and by Thomas Jefferson: “this letter was found in the drawer of a writing table / about a year after I came into the President’s house. / it was immediately resealed, and has only awaited / an occasion of being sent back. / Th: J.”

JA to AA, 2 Nov., above. JA’s journey from Quincy to Washington, D.C., was reported in the Boston Columbian Centinel, 15 Oct.; the New York Commercial Advertiser, 17 Oct.; the Philadelphia Gazette of the United States, 18 Oct.; and the Alexandria Times, 21 October.

Richard Cranch to AA, 31 Oct., above. No second letter has been found.

Job, 31:35.

The 2d session of the 6th Congress convened on 17 Nov., although a quorum was not reached until 18 Nov. in the House of Representatives and 21 Nov. in the Senate. The session adjourned on 3 March 1801 (Biog. Dir. Cong.; Annals of Congress, 6th Cong., 2d sess., p. 721, 782).

John Adams to Abigail Adams, 15 November 1800 Adams, John Adams, Abigail

John Adams to Abigail Adams

My dearest Friend Washington Nov. 15. 1800

I recd last night your Letter of the 11th. Your Girls and Mr shipley arrived in good health and Spirits. I shall Send the Charriot this morning to meet you. It would be a great pleasure to me to go in it, but I am so engaged in indispensable business that I know not how to leave it and another thing of some importance is your Son may take a seat with you & Suzan in the Charriot and that will relieve the Burthen of the other Horses a good deal.

The Ancients thought a great Book a great Evil.1 Mr H. will find a little Book an evil great enough for him: for although it will probably answer its and with regard to me it will not answer his end with Regard to another Gentleman: but will ensure the Choice of the Man whom he dreads or pretends to dread more than me. I am of 439 Opinion however that he would prefer Mr J. to me. And so would Some others. Some of these are desirous of Confusion, and a dissolution of the Confederacy. Some in hopes of getting a new Constitution more to their Minds, some I fear in hopes of dividing the Continent, and setting up two or three Confederacies—and some perhaps in hopes of making an Army necessary.

The opposite Party too are divided into, many Sects, as the World will see, if they succeed in their Choice. Their Man will not be found to be the Man of all their People: No nor a Majority of them. He is not thorough going enough. He is not daring and desperate enough. In short one half the Nation has analyzed itself, within 18 months, past and the other will analyze itself in 18 months more. By that time this Nation if it has any Eyes, will see itself in a Glass. I hope it will not have reason to be too much disgusted with its own Countenance.

But I wander. Yours with an Affection / that will never end or be diminished but / with the Life of

J. A.2

RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “Mrs A.”; endorsed: “J Adams— / 15 Nov’br 1800—”; notation by William Smith Shaw: “Dr. Eustis is chosen.” FC (Adams Papers).

Callimachus as quoted in Athenaeus, The Deipnosophists, Book III, ch. 1.

As the notation on this letter indicates, Dr. William Eustis was elected on 3 Nov. to represent Boston and nearby towns in the U.S. House of Representatives, defeating Josiah Quincy III. Eustis (1753–1825), Harvard 1772, of Boston, was a representative in the Mass. General Court from 1788 to 1794 ( Biog. Dir. Cong. ; A New Nation Votes).