Abigail Adams to Elizabeth Smith Shaw, July 19, 1787

London july 20 [ 19 ] 1787— 1

my dear sister

I will not plead in excuse that I have not by any of the late vessels received a Line
from my Sister, and on that account omit writing to her. I know she would have written
to me if she had known early enough of the opportunity I hope she has before this time
received all the Letters I have written to her, & the little matters I have sent
her— Mrs Cranch wrote me that the Thoat distemper had broken out, with great voilence in
Haverhill it is a terrible disease & frequently Baffles the Skill of the Physician.
it is so infectious as to expose every person who attends the sick to it, and therefore
taking large doses of the Bark in powder is considerd as a good antidote &
preservative, but smoking airing washing & cleansing ever article as after the Small
Pox in the natural way, is considerd here as absolutely necessary. it has been known to
break out in families after the disease had quitted it, only from some infectious
garment. I should have advised my sister to have Sent her children immediately out of
Town. as she would from the Small Pox in the natural way burning pitch & Tar, Hot
viniger, are all good purifiers of the air; I pray Heaven preserve you & yours— I
want, yet feel affraid to hear, from you. I hope the warm weather will be the means of
abating and removeing the disease. I am something relieved by a Letter from Dr Tufts of
the 15 of june 2 if any of my Friends had
been sick, he would have mentiond it.

I am going tomorrow to set out in a journey of between 2 & 3 hundred miles in hopes
that it will essentially serve my Health. I have been very
frequently ill through the Spring & Summer, and am advised to this journey as a
restoritive. we shall be absent about a month. we mean to visit Devonshire & to see
the place of our dear Brother Cranchs nativity. it is said to be one of the finest
counties in England Mrs Smith & the little Boy accompanies us, Col Smith we do not
expect back till Sep br . I have by Captain Barnard Sent you a
Tea urn, it is packd in a Box with one for Sister Cranch. you will find an Iron calld a
heater. This when the water is boild, you heat red hot & put in the tin middle peice
which keeps the water hot during the whole process of tea making. I have also sent you a
little contrivence for lighting a candle when your fire is out, the directions for
useing are round the case— The Box is addrest to uncle smiths care. I think you will
find the urn of great service in Hot weather.

I have only to add my regards to Brother Shaw & a Book which was forgotten by the
last opportunity Mr Adams joins me in affectionate Regards to you and yours Mr Sparhawk
was so good as to call & offer to take a Letter I am Sensible of his civility, but
as I Shall be absent when he Sails. I think it best to commit all my Letters to captain
Barnard. I am my dear Sister with Sincere wishes for / your Health & happiness /
your ever affectionate / Sister

A Adams