Abigail Adams to Cotton Tufts, January 9, 1800

Philadelphia Janry 9 1800

my dear sir

I am indebted to you for two Letters, one which
acknowledges the Recipt of the three Bills, and one Yesterday received which
bears date Dec br 30th. 1 I thank You sir for all your kind
attention to my affairs— I inclose to You a Bill of the amount which You say
will be due to You; as I do not like to be in debt, I should like to have
all the Bills due to the Capenters , Start deletion, all , End, discharged before we commence a New buisness— with respect to the pump mr
French requests: the President thinks it will injure the water, and as our
Fathers and we have
drawn from the Well, he thinks it best to have it continued in its present
State— the President will write to you soon respecting the Farms. I dont
recollect whether I mentiond to you, that I thought mr Feild had better be
employd in prepareing the stone for the underpinning of the House; 2

The Sudden Death of Gen ll Washington has indeed produced a Chasm, as it respected the Army. his
station at the Head of it kept down many passions which will now be brought
into opperation, and have ample scope. Rank, Precedency, Right tittle will
all contend. envy ambition Emulation and Jealousy will all array themselves—
intrigue will work in the dark, but no alteration or addition, will be made
at present; as there is no present necessity and the exigencies of the
Country do not require it. the vacant place will not be suddenly fill’d.
Time will mature the public opinion and the general voice direct Right I
hope— As America can never possess an other citizen in whom So Many
qualities united to attach the public affection, in War and in Peace, it can
never be expected that any other appointment will give such universal
satisfaction

Every testimony of affection and Respect has been shewn
to his Memory: the Danger is that the gratefull feelings of the public will
outstrech the bounds of decency and decorum, and finally tend to injure a
Character which they mean to honour— there was no doubt but that every state
would voluntarily unite in some Marks of gratefull remembrance; this they
have already done, and the call upon them to renew the tribute by public
Authority, was altogether unnecessary yet it was what could not have been
withstood, without an alteriation which must injure the feelings of the
connections and give pain to the President: thus You see sir that in many
instances, public Men are obliged to act against their better judgment. The
resolution was alterd from its first form; making the thing perpetual, and
confined to the Present Year— some Gentlemen ventured to speak their minds
upon the Subject, and stated their objections, from the purest motives—
Washingtons Character will stand unrivalled; throughout all America—

You will be much gratified by reading Mrs Washingtons
answer to the Presidents Letter. 3 she was broght to tears upon
reading the Letters of Private Friendship which mr shaw carried her; which
was a happy effect, for she had not shed one before “the Grief which cannot
weep, whispers the o’er fraught Heart and bids it Break” 4 she was so melted into Sorrow,
that she was two hours getting through the Letter of the Presidents, and one which I wrote her, and tho she
strove to See Mr shaw, she finally excused herself You will see by her
replie to the President the struggle she had to bring her mind to relinquish
the only consolatary Idea She had left her, that of mingleing her Ashes with
his

I request your acceptance of Gen ll Lees Oration. My best Regards to mrs Tufts and all Friends

From Your affectionate

A A