Abigail Adams to Cotton Tufts, November 22, 1799

Philadelphia Nov br 22
1799

Dear sir

I received Yesterday Your favour of Nov br 8 th and thank You
for the information containd in it.

The weather has been uncommonly fine through the whole of
this Month; I wish You had used Your own judgment respecting the putting up
the frame this Winter. I had not any expectation of its being so early
ready, or of the winters being so mild, but it is now so far advanced that
it may be best to defer it untill early in March, and the carpenters as they
proposed can make windows doors &c so as to get every thing in
readiness

I wish You to pay Fowle, so that he shall be no looser,
even tho the Labour should amount to 10 or 15 dollors more than was agreed
for— 1 God forbid that I
should grind the face of the poor— 2 the cellar will be large enough, I
think it was best to proceed safely—

If the weather keeps off, and mr Porter can get up some
sea weed, it would be very agreable.

I expect when Congress meet there will be warm work. a
Clerk of the House and a speaker are to be Chosen. there will be a great
struggle to get in Beckly again, and unless our northern Members are here by
the first Day, it will be effected. the southern are already comeing. a more
voilent Jacobin does not exist than Beckly but the Election of McKean has
raised them so Much that they think to carry all before them— the conduct of
G Britain towards our Commerce gives us great reason to complain and puts
weapons into the hands of the Jacobins. yet strange to tell, no official
complaint of any Merchant, has ever been presented to the President; or any
officer of the Government, which leaves Room to believe, that many of the
captures which have been made, would not bear an Examination; they serve to
make, and keep up a Clamour; but our Merchants, will Many of them cover any property,
and trade with any Nation where there is a prospect of gain— I believe fully
with mr Tufts, that , Start deletion, they , End, Britains are
sufficiently Jealous of our increasing prosperity; and that they do not wish
to see our quarrel Setled with France: they are as Proud, as they are
powerfull. I am told that at the Southward, they pretend to believe the
President strongly attached to the British— this falshood is propogated to
answer Political purposes— I wish there next President may be as Independant
of foreign attachments. to do Justice to all is the Rule; and to be partial
to none—

I wrote to you and inclosed three hundred dollors, which
I hope You have received. 3

My kind regards to mrs Tufts and all other Friends from
your affectionate

A Adams—