Adams Family Correspondence, volume 12

John Adams to Abigail Adams, 24 April 1797 Adams, John Adams, Abigail
John Adams to Abigail Adams
My dearest Friend Phila. Ap. 24. 1797

This day you promis’d me to begin your Journey: but if the Weather is as disagreable with you as it is here, I could not exact the fullfillment of the Engagement. I fear you will have bad roads and unpleasant Weather.

You talk of your Perplexities and say you must get out of them yourself. Do you think mine less severe, public or private?

My dear and venerable Mother— Alass— I feel for her.— She can complement her daughter yet—that is a good Sign.— As to the Husband it Seems to me that the Mother and the Daughter ought to think a little of the President as well as the Husband. His Cares! His Anxieties! his Health! dont laugh— his Comfort—that his head may be clear and his heart firm, ought to be thought on more than the Husband. Provide every Thing for my aged and worthy Mother I hope to see her yet again before October.

You and Such petit Maitres and Maitresses as you, are forever criticising the Periods and Diction of Such great Men as Presidents and Chief Justices.— Do you think their Minds are taken up with such Trifles. there is solid keen, deep sense in that Morsel of Elsworths— You ought to be punished for wishing it not published.

I warrant you, I shall soon be acquitted of the Crime of Chronicle, Argus and Aurora praise— Let it run its rig however—and say nothing at present.1

Your moral reflections on worldly Possessions and earthly Comforts—Your look into futurity for brighter Scenes and fairer Prospects are wise.

88

You cant imagine what a Man of Business I am—how many Papers I read and how much I write, every day. I fear you will effeminate me when you come.

I have determined to Send my Coachman and Horses to Paulus Hook for you. as soon as I know the day you will be ready to get Your Coach over to the Hook I will endeavour to contrive that the Horses shall be ready. to be harnessed at you command. You will find the Coachman very Attentive sober, skillful and obliging.

I am forever your

J. A

RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “Mrs A”; endorsed: “Mr J A April 24 / 1797.”

1.

The Philadelphia Aurora General Advertiser and Thomas Greenleaf’s New York Argus were among the Democratic-Republican newspapers that wielded praise in an attempt to lure JA from staunch Federalism (Stewart, Opposition Press , 281–282). For example, the Aurora, 13 April, printed extracts of a letter stating that “sentiments have been imputed to Mr. Adams that he never adopted.” The New York Journal, Greenleaf’s semiweekly newspaper, similarly published a letter on 15 April commenting, “It is said, that Mr. Adams is sincerely disposed to reconcile France to us. I wish it may be true—he will establish a lasting and solid glory by it. … I hope much from his administration.”

Louisa Catherine Johnson to John Quincy Adams, 24 April 1797 Johnson, Louisa Catherine Adams, John Quincy
Louisa Catherine Johnson to John Quincy Adams
London April 24th 1797

I have recieved your letter of the 13th, my beloved friend, it is impossible to express the delight I experienced, when I read the welcome tidings it conveyed

yes my Dearest friend, should you find it practicable, I will with pleasure attend—you—my whole life shall be devoted to render you happy, and I trust in time, it will be in my power to convince you, that I am far from wishing to interrupt your studies, Too great an anxiety for your health induced me to write what has so much offended you, I have so often committed these faults lately, that whenever I write you, I feel a sort of fear, lest I should inadvertently repeat them

I will say no more on this subject my Adams, your letter conveyed such pleasing intelligence, I cannot dwell on the latter part of it— I only fear that something will happen to prevent our meeting, and I scarcely dare encourage the flattering hope, lest I should again be disappointed— I shewed my father that part of your letter, wherein you mention the probability of your return he told me he would write you by this opportunity

89

Ah my friend, it was in my last letter I said, that I was more reconciled to our lengthened seperation but the pleasure I now feel, fully convinces me how much I shall suffer, should we at last be doomed to seperate— my last disappointment has taught me to fear, and I find it almost impossible to check my apprehensions—

All the family desire to be remembered—

Farewell my best friend, believe me sincerely yours,

Louisa C. Johnson

RC (Adams Papers).