Abigail Adams to James Lovell, April 10, 1782

Braintree [ , Start insertion, ca. 10 , End, ] April [ , Start insertion, 1782 , End, ]

Sir

I have not had the pleasure of a line from you since your arrival in Philadelphia, but I
have had the satisfaction of hearing from abroad and finding that the situation of my Friend
was not so dissagreable as I feard. 1 You have had
publick dispatches and probable private Letters. Have you not some intelligence which you may
communicate?

There is not a prospect of peace I think. Thus my Friend expresses himself. “Do not flatter
yourself with the hopes of peace. There will be no such thing for several years.

“Do not distress yourself about any malicious attempts to injure me in the estimation of my
countrymen. Let them take their course and go the length of their Tether, they will not hurt
your H [usband] , whose character is fortified with a sheild of Innocence and
Honour ten thousandfold stronger than brass or Iron. The contemptible Essays made by you know
whom will only tend to their own confusion. I have already brought them into the true system
and that system is triumphant. They could not help Blushing themselves if they were to review
their conduct.”

By this I am led to think that matters are in a different train from what I apprehended. You
may be better able to judge by your publick dispatches.

This Letter will go by a Gentleman whose name is Perkings, who has been preceptor to my
children and Mr. Cranchs for more than a year. 2 He
is going at the desire of Mr. Ganet and in compliance with the request of a Gentleman in
Virginia to keep a private school there. He is a young genteleman of a fair character and good
abilities. As he is quite a Stranger in Philadelphia to every person except General Lincoln
and Mr. Partridge, 3 any notice you will please to
take of him, or any civilities you may shew him will be gratefully acknowledged by Sir your
old Friend & Humble Servant,

Portia