Adams Papers Digital Edition

Adams Family Correspondence, volume 3

John Thaxter to Abigail Adams

John Thaxter to Abigail Adams
James Lovell to Abigail Adams, 9 July 1778 Lovell, James AA James Lovell to Abigail Adams, 9 July 1778 Lovell, James Adams, Abigail
James Lovell to Abigail Adams
Dear Madam July 9th. 1778

I heartily congratulate you upon the indubitable Proofs of our Friends Arrival in France. You might imagine that the Congress had received some important Intelligence in the large Packets sent lately from Boston, if I did not acquaint you that they were chiefly for Monsr. Girard who is not yet arrived.1 A french Fleet having sailed for America, an English One being ready to follow, and a second french One to pursue that, if there is to be a War between the two Nations, it will probably commence in our Seas.

The Indians and Tories have cut off Wyoming;2 and They must be eradicated Root and Branch as soon as ever we get a little Relaxation from War on the Sea Coasts.

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I am not inattentive to Mr. Adams's Boxes which shall be forwarded by the first Opportunity. I presume I shall now get that which contained his Papers left under the Care of the Rev. Mr. Sprout.3

With every friendly Attachment, I am Dear Madam your humble Servt., James Lovell

RC (Adams Papers).

1.

Conrad Alexandre Gérard (1729–1790), first French minister to the United States, imminently expected in Philadelphia; see the following letter and Thaxter to AA, 17 July, below.

 2.

The destructive raid by British, Tories, and Indians on the Wyoming Valley settlements in northern Pennsylvania in early July.

 3.

Rev. James Sproat, JA's last landlord in Philadelphia, Sept. 1777; see JA, Diary and Autobiography , 2:262. For the recovery of JA's letters and other papers left there, and of personal articles he left at York in Nov. 1777, see Lovell to AA, 14 Nov. 1778, 5 June 1779; AA to Lovell, Feb.–March, 18–26 June 1779; all below.