Abigail Adams to John Adams, January 6, 1799

Sunday Quincy Jan’ ry 6 1799

my Dearest Friend

I believe it was in some such cold weather as the present, that
Solomon made the wise inquiry observation, if two
lie together, they shall be warm, but how can one be warm alone? 1 now if he had had such a Bedfellow as Louissa,
he might have found, that two might lie together, and yet be cold, for I am sure I felt
half frozen last night. Ever since thursday the weather has been most severely cold, so
as to freeze my ink in my warm Room; it has been as cold ever since Jan’ ry came in, as it was intensely Hot last July. the Snow is
very deep, and [. . .] is now adding to the quanity; tho whilst it is so cold there
cannot be much.

I receive the news papers very regularly and frequent. whilst there
is so great a Majority in the House in favour of Governmental Measures as 65 to 23,
there is no reason to despair; I should scarcly wish to see the Names of the Antis,
united with the Federilists. the address of the senate of Pensilvana does them
honour—but for the stain of having Elected Logan I should judge that Reason and
experience had their proper weight in that state; what kind of Being is this Logan? is
he conceited, is he foolish, has he been used as a tool?

Alass poor Virgina! thou wilt be a by word and a disgrace.
Punishment will fall upon the, and thy wayward ospring— if the French were not already
too much beaten & disheartned, they would send some troops there to Fraternize with
them. Buonaparty often made wise and just observations to his Army, and to those whom he
wished to conquer: to some Refractory Italians he observes, “that a people who give them
selves up to excess, are unworthy of Liberty. A Free people are those who obey Laws as
well as make them. Anarchy is productive of intestine commotions, and the horrors of
civil warfare.” 2

I go so little from Home, and see so few politicians that I do not
get any thing very interesting to communicate to you; I see by the papers of last
Evening that Mr Henry of Maryland, late Govenour is dead. He has been long an invalide.
I am glad however that he lived long enough to retrieve his Character, by his dissavowal
of French Prin[ciples] 3

How do you stand this very cold weather? the people here are
waiting for the promised communications; when are they to see them. Congress seem disposed to do buisness; I wish they were always tyed up to three
or four Months—

we are all in pretty good Health Colds excepted.

I think hourly of Thomas this dreadfull cold Weather. pray Heaven
that he may return in safety to his affectionate Mother, and Your

A Adams