Abigail Adams to Abigail Adams Smith, April 11, 1798

Philadelphia, April 11th, 1798.

My Dear Child:

I received your two letters of April 5th and 7th, yesterday, and I
enclosed you two from the children, in a letter to your brother this week, receiving them on that day; and not having time to write to you, before the
post went. 1

I do not think I have so frequently written to you for a month
past, as I did through the winter; and it is because I have felt less anxious for you
since the Col.’s return, and have a great deal of writing to one and another: to your
brothers abroad I write as often as I have opportunity, with but little hope, however,
that half my letters will reach them. We have not had any private letters from them; and
heard but once since their arrival at Berlin.

You ask me, if we shall have war? I answer, that we already have
war; the French have been at war with us for these many months: but your question is, I
presume, will America declare war against France? which is what I cannot say. I hope we
shall have spirit and energy sufficient to arm, and defend ourselves; and if that
obliges us to declare war, the sooner the better; for at present we suffer the miseries
and misfortunes attendant upon war, on one side only, having done all that honour,
justice, patience, and forbearance can possibly demand, or humanity require; we must
submit our cause to Heaven, and use the means which Providence has put into our power
for our defence. One of the great evils we suffer has arisen from the disunion in our
Representatives, and the blind attachment which this people imbibed towards France, even
though the whole system of their revolution has become the tyranny and oppression of
every kingdom, and country, which they have conquered, or fraternized as they term it;
success has rendered them deaf to every principle both of law and equity; and avarice
and venality is the only order of the day. I enclose the despatch from our Envoys, which
when called for, the President thought the critical state of the country required him to
submit the communications; though I am very apprehensive at the expense of the liberty
at least of our Envoys if they are still in Paris. The instructions the Senate have
directed to be published: the world will then see, that the unjust aspersions cast upon
the President, that he wished for war, and that the instructions were not ample, are as
groundless as many others which are industriously circulated to injure him in the minds
of the people; but whether it arises from my expectation that he was destined to suffer
all the lies and falsehoods which party can invent; or whether, from a knowledge of his
rectitude, and the certainty that nothing injurious to the country or the liberties of
the people will ever be knowingly done, all the jacobinical abuses, and foul aspersions, give me no other pain, than what arises from the injury done to the
people by misleading and deceiving them.

It is not uprightness of intention or rectitude of action, which
can shield from censure, or guard from envy and malice, even the purest motives; but
they will bear a man out to himself, and his judge, and the world will finally do him
justice. Who is there that was ever placed in an eminent station, that has not suffered
the curse causeless? I do not mean to hint by this, that high stations are exempt from
vice or folly, but that they are always a mask for the baser passions to level their
weapons against.

If Mr. and Mrs. ——— come to Philadelphia and call upon me, as I
presume they will, I shall certainly notice them, and will with pleasure invite them to
stay with me. You ask me of Mrs. ———. I thought I had expressed my opinion of her to you
before; if I have not, I can say with truth that I think her a very fine woman, and
vastly superior in manners and understanding to her husband; she has a fine person,
affable manners, and a lady-like deportment. Money, money is his sole object, and he
feels the weight of it; he is not without some talents, but they are all turned to gain;
for that he would make sacrifices, which a man who considers the honour and independence
of his country at stake, would sooner sacrifice his life than submit to. I am warranted
in saying this from his public conduct. Yet in company he is a social pleasant man, and
always seemed good humoured.

I cannot answer you when Congress will rise. I hope however as
there appears much more union amongst them, that they will proceed with business, and
make more despatch. I think they will not rise until June, do the best they can; for
scarcely any thing yet has been accomplished. I shall be very happy to have you go with
me whenever I do go. 2

Your affectionate mother,

A. Adams.