Adams Family Correspondence, volume 12
g.East Chester 29 July 1797.
We leave this place this morning & hope to reach Home on fryday of the next week. I have written to mr smith to procure sundry articles for me in Boston which will require a Team to bring them to Quincy, & bags for oats will you be so good as to consult with mr Porter, and if mr Belcher can go to Town for them So as to get them up before we arrive I should be very glad. will you be so kind as to have some coffe burnt and ground, some Bread and cake made for me, and to be at our House on fryday when we hope to reach Quincy and if you should hear of any intention of company meeting us on the road, to accompany us to Quincy, I must beg of you to make Such arrangments of punch & wine as may be necessary. I have written to mr smith on the subject and he will inform you. 222 wine you can draw from the casks in the cellar Punch must be made by Gallons. you will procure spirit for the purpose, and in a Box in the North cellar which is naild up is some Jamaca Spirit, that with some Brandy will answer
I believe it would be best to get Mrs Baxter to go to the House and assist in making Beds as she knows where my things are, better than any one else. the Matresses should be put on the Feather Beds, & two Beds put up in the new out Chamber for the Men servants. I have my two Grandson with me, but they can be provided for by some of my Friends if we cannot lodge them at first. we met at N york with so many unexpected things which we were not provided for, that I wish to have Some arrangments made now previous to our getting home particuliarly if we should meet company. you will find glasses &c enough. you will be so good as to have a table set in the dinning parlour, and every thing ready, to receive / Your truly affectionate / sister & Friends
RC (MWA:Abigail Adams Letters); addressed: “Mrs Mary Cranch / Quincy”; endorsed by Richard Cranch: “Letter from Mrs / A: Adams (E: Chester) / July 29. 1797.”
We are thus far on our Way to N England if no accident happens to prevent us. I hope on thursday of next week to sleep at williams at Malbourough, and to dine at Watertown on fryday. We escaped from N york with less parade than was intended, tho we were not less sensible to the politeness and civility of the inhabitants who were disposed to do us every honour both civil and Military. the first we received, the second we, avoided as much of, as we could.1
From Some Hints which I have received I am led to believe some thing of the kind is designd in Boston if there should be, I will be much obliged to you to send on the inclosed Letter to mrs Cranch as soon as you receive it. the President requests the favour of you to purchase for him a quarter cask of Maderia wine proper for immediate use. I will thank you to procure for me a Barrel of best flower, if mine should not be arrived, a quarter hundred Loaf sugar, one Hundred of Brown Sugar quarter Hundred Coffe, 1 pd best Hyson Tea one souchong a cask crakers & as many dozen of Lemmons as 223 you may suppose will be necessary if we should have company to go Home with us. I would inclose you Money, but having lost a post Note lately by Post, from Philadelphia to N york, I had rather ask credit till we arrive.2 I would have a Team sent from Quincy for these things & some oats which I requested the favour of you to procure for us, and which our coachman will think himself and Horses undone without. your known kindness in Executing the buisness of your Friends prevents my apologizing for the trouble I give you. my best regards to mrs smith and our Friends, / From your affectionate
we have concluded to go by way of Providence and hope to be at dedham on fryday noon I do not mention this with any desire to have it communicated unless particularly inquired after.
RC (MHi:Smith-Carter Family Papers); addressed “Mr William smith merchant / Boston”; endorsed: “East. Chester 19 July 97 / A Adams.”
JA and AA arrived in New York City on the evening of 26 July. At sunrise on the 27th “16 guns were fired from the battery on Governor’s Island” announcing their arrival. A brigade assembled “in Broad-Way, opposite to the Trinity Church … to pay due honors” to JA, who also dined with Gov. John Jay. A “Grand Concert, In Honor of the President of the United States” was planned at Vauxhall Garden on the 28th, the finale of which included “a Transparency of the President, with grand Illuminations” (New York Time Piece, 28 July; New York Diary, 28 July; New York Minerva, 26, 28 July).
For the miscarried post note, see AA to Mary Smith Cranch, 6 July, note 6, above.