Adams Family Correspondence, volume 4

John Adams to William Jackson, 14 November 1781 JA Jackson, William John Adams to William Jackson, 14 November 1781 Adams, John Jackson, William
John Adams to William Jackson
Dr. Sir Amsterdam November 14. 1781

Last night I had the Honour of your Favour of 26 of October1 and congratulate you on your Arrival at Bilbao and your agreable Prospect of a Passage to America. I thank you sir, for your kind Attention to my Son, and wish you to take him home with you. Mr. Guardoqui will be so good as to furnish Charles with Stores, and draw upon me.

What can be done with the Continental Property I know not, unless Dr. Franklin will advance Money to charter Vessells to send them along to take their fate, at all hazards. We shall do the best We can, but it is a melancholly and affecting Dissappointment.—I presume, you will be saild, before this reaches Spain, or I should be more particular. I have the Honour to be, Sir, your most obedient humble servant,

J. Adams 244

RC (DNA: PCC, No. 84, III); endorsed: “from J. Adams Novr. 14. 1781 received November 28. 1781.” LbC (Adams Papers); in John Thaxter's hand.

1.

Above.

Abigail Adams to James Lovell, 15 November 1781 AA Lovell, James Abigail Adams to James Lovell, 15 November 1781 Adams, Abigail Lovell, James
Abigail Adams to James Lovell
November 15th 1781 There is a Lust in Man no Charm can tame of loudly publishing his Neighbours Shame on Eagles wings immortal scandles fly whilst virtuous actions are but born and die.

Do you know a Man by the Name of More What is his character?1

I have never replied to your favour of october 9th. I felt a reluctance at writing. Yet I love your Letters when they are not too sausy, or do not border upon what I never will pardon or forgive. I cannot withdraw my esteem from the writter, yet if his Friends do not tell him how much his character suffers, they do not act the part of Friends in that particular. Massachusets air can alone purify it. I never meant to have touched so dissagreable a string again. There is but one thing wanting to have put a final stop to it, a conviction of the cause'es realy existing. If ever that takes place do not recollect that you ever knew Portia, for she will blot from her memory every vestage of a character in which she has been so much deceived.2

At length Sir I have heard of Gillion after many terrors on account of the storm which took place after he saild. A vessel from Bilboa last night arrived brings word that he put into Corruna in Spain—no further particulars yet come to hand. She is certainly bound to your port. Mr. Guile who arrived in Brown about 3 weeks ago embarked on Board the frigate, but went on shore for one Night. She saild and left him, from him I learnt her orders were to go to Philadelphia, from whence I hope to hear of her arrival soon, and of my dear Boys safety.

I congratulate you Sir upon the Capture of Cornwallis and upon every other important and favorable event which has taken place since I wrote you last. There may possibly be some opportunity opened by water for a safe conveyance of the articles about which you have already taken much trouble. If there should I would rather risk the Box of china that way than by land.—I will subscribe myself what I now am and ever wish to be your real Friend,

Portia 245

Dft (Adams Papers); without indication of addressee. At head of text CFA misassigned the date as “October 15. 1781.”

1.

See Lovell's answer, 4 Dec., below.

2.

This cryptic paragraph, involving a further charge against Lovell's character, is clarified in AA to Lovell, 8? Jan. 1782, below; see note 3 there.