Abigail (daughter of JA and AA) Adams to John Quincy Adams, July 22, 1786
July 22d 1786—Wimpole Street London
I have also to sollicit your Pardon my Dear Brother for haveing so long delayd writing you. I know that you will overlook it and forgive me. You are not at this time uninformd of the change which has taken place in our family, tho < , Start deletion, I have till now been silent , End, > my pen has lain unemploy’d from the 29th of April to this day. 1 At present your Sister is settled in Wimpole Street about half a mile from Grosvenor Square. I suppose Mamma will inform you of every particular that you may wish to be informd of, and I will indeavour for the future to take up, the thread of my discourse from the 22d of july, and continue to forward to you the subject of my reflections.
My friend will write you by this Conveyance, 2 and you must continue to favour me with your daily journal with as much freedom as ever, for your sister is not alterd, only in Name. She feels if possible an additionl attachment to her family, and more sollicitous to promote the pleasure and happiness of each individual of it, and more interested in what may concern them. I have to acknowledge the receipt of your N 13 14 15 3 by < , Start deletion, Clallihan , End, >, and to assure you that they gave me great pleasure.
We were very glad to hear that you had entered Colledge, and I can easily excuse you for not writing when you had so important a work to accomplish. Persevereance with judgment with affect what ever you wish, that lies within your own ability. Yours will I hope be directed to important and usefull objects to those which will render persevereence Loudable. Many of the Customs at the University must undoubtedly appear to you ridiculous, and the manners of the Governors, unnecessary. It is a misfortune that People so often mistake the means, of promoting their importance and dignity but it is the case in almost every class of Men. They attend to triffles, more than to greater objects and often by such mistaken means destroy every particle of that, which they are so anxiously sollicitous to Support. I have ever thought that dignity exists in the mind and where it is not implanted by nature I am inclined to beleive all the forms and rigid formalities that can be invented by Pride and folly can never be mistaken by the least discerning for that, divine principle, possessd by a few. I have seen, an affectation of dignity very often, but I have never seen but very few, who possessd the real principle. You will I hope persevere in your resolution to pay all proper respect to every Govenor of the University, and tho to me you write with all possible Liberty you should be upon your guard, to others, especially in Colledge where your example would < , Start deletion, have weight , End, >, be injurious to others were You to fail. I do not at all wonder at your observations.
The Death of Charles Warren must have been very distressing to Mrs W—— particularly. I think he was the flower of the family. I am sorry for their misfortunes in every way. W[ , Start insertion, inslow’s , End, ] Conduct must be the greatest affliction to them. Charles Storer has I think addopted the most eligable plan he could and his friend must approve him, but I doubt whether he is active and determined enough to overcome the Hardships and inconveniences to which he must be subjected. 4 But I hope he will, for he is a very worthy Youth.
Before I proceed further I must notice that part of your letter when you tell me you are learning the flute. This my Brothers gave me great uneasiness, and permit me to intreat of you not to continue the use of it. You may be assurd that it is extremely injurius to healhts. The first Complaints of Chareles W arrose from playing upon the flute. I must beg of you to lay it aside and to persuade your Brothers should they be so unwise as to use it to do so likewise. Charles would be more certain to receive injury than you or Thomas, but I hope you will all be persuaded to desist. It will be too Late when you feel the ill affects of it as you most certainly will, ere long.
I thank you for the vrces inclosed pray who is Delia a real or, feignd, Character. 5 The verse is smooth and the sentiments just. I shall be pleased whenever you favour me with your productions. I think it is a pleasing amusement and I dont see any disadvantages arrising from it, provided you do not spend to much time or steal a little from more important studies which I dare say you will not.