Abigail Adams Smith to John Quincy Adams, December 27, 1789

Richmond Hill December 27 th 1789—

I have lived long in expectation of the pleasure of receiving a letter from my Dear
Brother but at length I am reduced to despair; and am led to inquire what has prevented
the fullfillment of a promise which you made at your departure upon my requesting you to
write;— I hope you did not suppose that my absence during your visit arrose from any
inattention towards yourself;— most certainly if I had had the least Idea of your
leaving us so soon I should not have taken that time for my visit, it has been a scource
of Chagrine to me eversince

Mamma received a letter from you last week which is the first line that any one of this
family have received from you since you left us; we heard of your safe arrival through
my Aunt Cranch, and we have since heard of you both from the President and M r Dalton.

upon the receipt of your Letter your Father said that he had Conversed with M r Dana when he was at Cambridge upon the subject of your
setting down in Boston, and that M r D—— had advised to it,
that he himself had Considered the subject and that he had no objection to your going to
Boston, Mamma desired that he would write to you upon the subject and I suppose he will
ere long,—but as it was a subject in which I knew you were much interested I thought I
would mention it; as the earliest information is sometimes of some importance—, I am
happy that your wishes upon this subject are answered, as I should think it a preferable
situation, for Business to any Country Town, some might offer as an objection the Number
who are pursueing the same objects, but a young Man of your abilities persevereance and
industry need not fear of being placed in the Back Ground; most sincerely do I wish you
success in your undertakeings; and pursuits, both Honourable, and profitable;— Charles
is very attentive to his Office—and begins to like New York—, Thomas has been with us
some time, but thinks he prefers Cambridge to New York,— as to News I donot hear of any
except a Confirmation of the Account that North Carolina has adopted the
Constitution, 1 the Members of the
Government are assembling daily and tomorrow night is the day they are to meet,

it is reported that Miss Thomson M rs Gerrys Sister is soon
to be Married to M r Coles one of the Virginia
representatives—a Widower with two Chrildren— 2 M r Jefferson has
arrived in Virginia but not yet come to New York,— I suppose you have heard of the
arrival of M r Trumble, he has come to take a Number of
portraits which may enable him to pursue his American peices but intends returning soon
to England,— 3 this is not the Country for
him to paint for emolument, and we must acquire taste before his merits can be fully
known

I hope I shall have the pleasure of receiving some testimony of your remembrance soon—
if you have one favourite do not let that one Possess the
whole of your Social Affection it will not diminish for one object by being extend to
others— the President told Mamma that he was informed that her Son was more attentive to
his Books than to the Ladies, perhaps you may think it the greatest Compliment that
could have been paid you but I hope you will not rank inattention to your friends
amongst the first of your good quallities

Coll n Smith desires to be remembered to you and William
sends his Duty—

remember me to those who / inquire after your Sister

A Smith—