Abigail Adams to Cotton Tufts, October 17, 1797

East Chester october 17 th 1797

Dear sir

I was in hopes to have seen you, and had some more conversation
with you upon the subject of finishing the Room in the out House. I experienced so
many inconveniencies from a mixture of Families Whilst I was at Home, that I should
not wish to try it again, for if mr & mrs Porter had not been of a very
accommodating disposition we should have met with more trouble than I did. I told mr
Porter that I would have him digg a cellar under it, and I should be glad to have a
small building behind for a dairy room suppose it only 12 foot Square so as to
communicate with the Room. the Chimny I would build without the House so as to make as
much Room as possible. I would have an oven built in it. from the wash House a
communication can be made through the closet under the stairs, so that two windows in
front may be made, if (as I hope we shall), some alteration should be made in the
House, so as to take the Books into the House there will then be a good Bed room for a
Family, and my own people when at home may occupy the Chambers and the wash House
without much interference I wish you would consult deacon Perce of Dochester, whether
an addition might not be made to the House in front of 8 or 10 feet, and by that means
enable us to raise the Roof on that part so as to make us some good upper Chambers, or
in what way a comfortable addition might be made. as to taking down chimnies, I could
not think of it to such a House as that is. I know by adding to the front it will
bring the Chimnies wrong, but that I should not regard since it would tend to
accommodate us, and I believe in the least expensive mode. 1

we are yet here, that is I am here, for you will learn by the
publick papers, that the President went yesterday into N york, and that on Wedensday a
splendid dinner is to be given to which there are 300 subscribers— 2 N york is determined to vie with Boston on
this occasion— the people will have it so, it must be submitted to— a light Horseman
had been sent out to this place 20 miles from the city 5 days before we came with
orders to stay untill we arrived, that the military might not be again
dissapointed.

I know not when we shall be able to go into the city of
Philadelphia it is however said that it will be safe by Nov’ br the fever is chiefly confined to Southark. it will be deplorable to that
city to convene Congress any where else. so many are dependant upon them for their
Daily Bread, and I doubt very much whether any congress will be made untill December.
the Members must be very reluctant to trust themselves in Boarding Houses—and I do not
yet learn that the inhabitants have returnd. the weekly Bills of Mortality are near
the same for these 3 or four weeks past.

before I came from Home I had taken from mrs French & Burrel
part of my Cheese. some I had left with mrs Porter, some I sent to my Children I should like to have a Barrel of mrs
Burrels sent me to Philadelphia, as soon as I can give you notice that any person is
there to receive it. when we past through Conneticut we found in most parts great
quantities of cider—no doubt much of it, will be sent to Boston. I could wish sir that
as much as half a dozen Barrels of the best of cider under your particuliar care might
be Secured for us against an other summer. if we should live, I presume we shall wish
to return as early in the spring as publick Buisness will permitt, and Congress I
fancy will not risk sitting in that city late.

My best regards to all Friends— / Your affectionate / Neice

A Adams—

Mrs smith desires to be kindly rememberd