Abigail Adams to Cotton Tufts, December 6, 1797

Philadelphia December 6 1797

Dear sir

I received your Letter of Nov br 24 by
the post of yesterday. with respect to the Notes you wrote me about I wish you to do by
them as you would by your own, as I do not want at present neither Principle or
interest. I think it would be most for my interest to do by them as you propose. the
method you mention of adding to the out house so as to give me a dairy Room I like very
much, and would leave it to your judgment. I think it would be best to have it large
enough to take of a closset that cold vitictuals &c may not be mixt in with dairy
affairs. I should be glad to have it compleated if possible before I return in the
spring, but the winter has sit in with great voilence here, and the Rivers are already
frozen up so that I fear we shall not have a
Chance of getting any Cheese here. Congress are but just getting into Buisness, and the
vice President is not yet arrived to sit six months together, regulating debates,
moderating Warmth and reading papers, is a laborious task, and what I fancy the Present
VP. does not like so well as Rocking in his Pivot Chair, or amusing himself with the
vibration of a Pendilum. I have never yet seen the southern Man—Washington excepted, who
could bear close application for any length of Time. what a ringing would there have
been in all the Jacobinical papers from one end of the united states to the other if
somebody else had done so!

we are all well. the cold Weather has intirely put a stop to the
yellow fever, and no person would now suppose that such a calamity had ever befallen the
city the synod recommended a day of fasting and prayer. the difference between this
place and N England, was this, being recommended by a Body of Presbeterian Ministers,
none of the Church Clergy would join in it, every shop in the city was open as usual and
a very Small proportion of the inhabitants attended worship buisness and pleasure went
on as usual. 1

Remember me to mrs Tufts and all other Friends from your ever
affectionate

Abigail Adams.