Familiar Letters of John Adams and His Wife Abigail Adams During the Revolution: with a Memoir of Mrs. AdamsAdams, John
History
Familiar Letters of John Adams and His Wife Abigail Adams During the Revolution: with a Memoir of Mrs. Adams
Adams, John
Adams, Abigail, 1744-1818 -- Correspondence; Adams, John, 1735-1826 -- Correspondence; Presidents -- United States -- Correspondence
Now I know you are safe, I wish myself with you. Whenever you entertain
such a wish, recollect that I would have willingly hazarded all dangers
to have been your companion; but, as that was not permitted, you must
console me in your absence by a recital of all your adventures; though,
methinks, I would not have them in all respects too similar to those
related of your venerable colleague, whose Mentor-like appearance, age,
and philosophy most certainly lead the politico-scientific ladies of
France to suppose they are embracing the god of wisdom in a human form;
but I, who own that I never yet "wished an angel, whom I loved a man,"
shall be full as content if those divine honors are omitted. The whole
heart of my friend is in the bosom of his partner. More than half a
score of years have so riveted it there that the fabric which contains
it must crumble into dust ere the particles can be separated. I can hear
of the brilliant accomplishments of any of my sex with pleasure, and
rejoice in that liberality of sentiment which acknowledges them. At the
same time, I regret the trifling, narrow, contracted education of the
females of my own country. I have entertained a superior opinion of the
accomplishments of the French ladies, ever since I read the letters of
Dr. Shebbeare, who professes that he had rather take the opinion of an
accomplished lady, in matters of polite writing, than the first wits of
Italy; and should think himself safer with her approbation than with
that of a long list of literati; and he gives this reason for it, that
women have, in general, more delicate sensations than men; what touches
them is for the most part true in nature, whereas men, warped by
education, judge amiss from previous prejudice, and, referring all
things to the mode of the ancients, condemn that by comparison, where no
true similitude ought to be expected.
But, in this country, you need not be told how much female education is
neglected, nor how fashionable it has been to ridicule female learning;
though I acknowledge it my happiness to be connected with a person of a
more generous mind and liberal sentiments. I cannot forbear transcribing
a few generous sentiments which I lately met with upon this subject.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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