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
I believe it is time to think a little about my family and farm. The
fine weather we have had for eight or ten days past I hope has been
carefully improved to get in my hay. It is a great mortification to me
that I could not attend every step of their progress in mowing, making,
and carting. I long to see what burden. But I long more still to see to
the procuring more sea-weed, and muscle mud, and sand, etc.
However, my prospect is interrupted again. I shall have no time. I must
prepare for a journey to Philadelphia, a long journey indeed! But if the
length of the journey were all, it would be no burden. But the
consideration of what is to be done is of great weight. Great things are
wanted to be done, and little things only I fear can be done. I dread
the thought of the Congress' falling short of the expectations of the
continent, but especially of the people of this province.
Vapors avaunt! I will do my duty, and leave the event. If I have the
approbation of my own mind, whether applauded or censured, blessed or
cursed, by the world, I will not be unhappy.
Certainly I shall enjoy good company, good conversation, and shall have
a fine ride and see a little more of the world than I have seen before.
The letters I have written, or may write, my dear, must be kept secret,
or at least shown with great caution.
I believe I forgot to tell you one anecdote. When I first came to this
house it was late in the afternoon, and I had ridden thirty-five miles
at least. "Madam," said I to Mrs. Huston, "is it lawful for a weary
traveller to refresh himself with a dish of tea, provided it has been
honestly smuggled, or paid no duties?" "No, sir," said she, "we have
renounced all tea in this place, but I'll make you coffee." Accordingly
I have drank coffee every afternoon since, and have borne it very well.
Tea must be universally renounced, and I must be weaned, and the sooner
the better.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 25: Foster Hutchinson, one of the Associate Justices of the
Superior Court, and brother of the Governor. He was proscribed and his
property confiscated. He removed to Nova Scotia in 1776, where he died
in 1799.]
[Footnote 26: David Wyer, a graduate of Harvard College in 1758, entered
on the practice of his profession at Falmouth, but died before he was
forty, in October, 1775.]
10. JOHN ADAMS.
Falmouth, 7 July, 1774.
Have you seen a list of the addressers of the late Governor?[27] There
is one abroad, with the character, profession, or occupation of each
person against his name. I have never seen it, but Judge Brown says
against the name of Andrew Faneuil Phillips is "Nothing." And that
Andrew, when he first heard of it, said, "Better be nothing with one
side than everything with the other."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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