Abigail Adams Smith to John Adams, March 14, 1797

East Chester March 14 th 1797

my Dear Pappa

I received some time since your letter of the 21 st of Febuary—and am very happy to find that you suppose my
apprehensions respecting any embarrassments which may be thrown in your way are
premature— 1 I have heard from all
quarters that the Choice of President has been highly approved of and is perfectly
Sattisfactory to all parties even the most violent Democrats in New York have expressed their intire acquiessence in the Election and I am very happy to find M r Jefferson has come forward with such fair and Candid
sentiments as his address to the senate discovers— 2 I beleive many persons will be agreeably
disappointed with respect to his pursuits

you must not my Dear Sir judge unfavourably of me—from my silence
at this period—when all Connected with you are I presume offering to you their
Congratulatory addresses—upon your assention to a Station so highly important—and which
you are undoubtedly better prepared to fill with advantage to our Country than any other
Man—or suppose that it is the result of indifferance towards you or any want of fillial
affection—for I seek with avidity for every thing that is made public to us respecting
yourself at this time, and have read with much pleasure your speach at the
inauguration—and I Lamented that you should not have had one single Brance of your own
family present at the interesting Scene— if I had been in a situation that could have
rendered it proper, or Possible, I would most certainly have been present

that I am retired from all society and have no intercourse with any
one out of my family would be no mortification to me—if it afforded me an opportunity of
Educating my Children; there is no Personall gratification nor individual advantage that
I should not readily relinquish if it could afford me an opportunity of Seeing them
improve or advancing in their Studies— but the Place we are in neither affords a school
or a Clergyman—and I am much at a loss to know, what to do with them—

William is now at an age when it becomes necessary for him to have
constant and regular attention—and I think every day he passes is a day lost to him— 3

what is to be their or our future destination is hid from our view
by “that impenetrable veil which you observe covers futurity”— 4 I see nothing in prospect for them but the most
undistinguished stations in Life— and I expect that they will have to acquire as much
self command and experience as many humiliations and mortifications of spirit as can be
necessary for them; or as any one can wish them to encounter— but thease things are
directed by an Higher Power and all Human Exertions are inadequate to Counteract
them

whatever fate m[ay be] in reserve for me I hope I shall be
supported under [ it ] without repineing—and that my Heart
may be steeled against the misfortunes which seem to await us— but I must beg your forgiveness for obtruding upon your time, and important avocations

with every wish for your Happiness I am affectionately your
Daughter

A Smith—