Abigail Adams to John Adams, April 17, 1797

Quincy April 17 th 1797

My Dearest Friend

Tho I have not heard from you since I wrote you last, and have
nothing new to say, unless it be a resital of my own perplexities, out of which I must
get by myself. Yet a few lines will assure you that I am getting forward as fast as
possible with my affairs, and prepairing to sit out on my journey. the weather has been
as uncommonly cold and stormy for the week past, as it was Hot for two days the week
before. we have a snowstorm, of some inches Depth, which has lain for three days. it has
retarded our Buisness on the farm and chilld our exertions. the sudden changes have
confind Your Mother and brought on one of her old Lung complaints the good old Lady is
sure she shall dye now her Physician & Nurse is about to leave her, but She judges
with me, that all ought to be forsaken for the Husband. it is an additional care and
anxiety for me. I shall provide for her comfort every thing necessary before I leave
her. Mary Smith is yet living. of how uncertain a duration are all our worldly
possessions, and Earthly comforts? if we could not look for brighter scenes and fairer
prospects, who could wish to remain the victims of pain and sorrow? mr otis has lost his
son George with a dropsy in his Head. 1

I have just been reading chief Justice Elsworths Charge to the
Grand jury at New York! 2 did the good
gentleman never write before? can it be genuine? the language is stiffer
than his person. I find it difficult to pick out his meaning in many sentences. I am
sorry it was ever publishd— how I run on. the Federilist say there is but one blot in
Your Character. the Chronical has undertaken to praise and the Jacobins to speak
well. 3 the snare will not hold action
will soon break it— critical are the Times. may you get valiently through them.

yours for ever

A Adams—