Papers of John Adams, volume 11
Capt. Charles Jenkins of the Brig Sally arrived here this morning to my address, he left Rhode Island on the 12 Jan and reports that affairs were in the same State, the English Fleet in Gardiners Bay and the French in Rhode Island and both armies in Winter Quarters. By this Vessell I received the inclosed Letter which I take the earliest Opportunity to forward.1
Were I to attempt to make an Apology for my long Silence I should do it awkwardly for I confess I have not been so attentive to you as I ought to have been and I freely ask your Pardon. I trust you will forgive me and accept of my Future attention as an atonement. I assure you however that for these last six Weeks I have not enjoyed an hours Tranquility on account of Mrs. Williams's situation Illness and I am sure you have too often experienced the Anxiety of such a Situation to think it strange that even the most Important Correspondence should be neglected.2 I hope I shall be soon relieved from this 138uneasiness as Mrs. Williams is much better tho' not yet out of her Bed.
I am sorry the Wine came in so bad a Condition to Orleans. It went away from me in good Order but I suspect the Boatman is a Rogue.3 I have not yet drawn for it because I have not heard of your Reception of the Wine I sent from Bordeaux and I wished to make but one affair of it.
This letter has not been identified.
Mariamne Alexander Williams was recovering from the birth of their daughter Christine on 29 Dec. 1780 (Franklin, Papers
, 34:224). Williams' last known letter to JA was dated 14 Sept. 1780 (Adams Papers).
From the reference to the wine at Orléans it is clear that Williams is replying to JA's letter of 13 Nov. (LbC, Adams Papers) in which JA reported that the wine sent by Williams had arrived at Orléans “in a Condition unfit to go forward, and Some of it gone.” See also JA's letter to Henry Grand of 3 Nov. 1780 and Grand's reply of 24 Nov. (vol. 10:323, 369–370).