Abigail Adams to John Adams, June 7, 1787

London june 7 th 1787

My Dearest Friend

I expected to have heard from you by the last post, but was dissapointed, only a few
lines from Mr Cutting have come to hand since you left me. I wrote you on the 29 th of May, and inclosed two Letters respecting mr Barclay.
Since that time a Letter from the Frenchs, has arrived, in which they inform you that Mr
Barclay was liberated by applying to the Parliament of Bordeaux in virtue of his
commission to moroco, but they make most heavy complaints stating their case to you, and
conceiving it in your power to relieve them. 1 I do not think it prudent to commit the Letter
to the post. mrs Smith has a Letter from mr Smith dated at Bayonne the 26 of may. he had
received a Letter from his Friend mr Harrison informing him that mr
Charmical had procured him Letters & a passport from the King of Spain, which might
facilitate his progress and serve him on his journey. 2

The News here is that stocks have fallen 5 prcent in concequence of a paragraph in his
Majestys Speach respecting Holland. 3 the
News papers tell us of terible Roits committed by the patriotick party and make one
almost anxious for their Friends there. 4

The prince of Wales has been most dangerously sick, has been Bled Six times, his
disorder a voilent fever which fixd upon his Lungs. the papers tell us that his Royall
highness bore his disorder with Christian fortitude ; he is
better to day— 5

The monthly Reviewers have made open war upon the Defence of the American
constitutions, and torn it all to peices, “ostentatious display of learning, an
embarrassed affectation of Elocution— The balances the balances are perpetually rung in
our ears like Lord Chesterfields graces, but in all the constitutions here passed in
Review before the reader, those of America and England not excepted, there is not given
a distinct account of the real balancing powers of any State, or the particulars in
which the balance consisted had the Book been written by a youth with a view to obtain
some academical prize we should have said, that it afforded indications of an active
mind that gave hope of future acquirements, but that the young man too eager to discover
the extent of his reading, had carelessly adopted some confused notions of government
and hastily skimmed the surface of the subject without having taken time to investigate
particulars and sift the matter to the bottom, but we cannot bring ourselves to think
that a man of dr Adams’s known abilities could possibly be in the same prediciment, for
which reason we conclude that he must have some point to carry, some object in view
beyond the atlantick with which we are not acquainted. the Book may indeed amuse the
ignorant it may mislead the unwary, but neither can inform nor entertain the phylosopher
nor the man of Letters.” 6 In various
parts I thought I discoverd Satans cloven foot, but did not know that any individual was
permitted to send in his comments upon a work untill I heard this peice ascribed to that
poor envy ridden, contemptable, Ignorant self conceited wretch Silas dean. 7 This at once disarmed me of my resentment, (for
I own it fretted me for one Night so that I did not sleep quietly) and I felt in perfect
good humour. I have only given you a small portion of the compliments of which he has
been very profuse, & having got his lesson by Heart has retaild it in all companies,
mr Shippen is my Author.

I am very anxious to hear from you, and to know when I may expect your return. The
Weather remains very cold here. I hope you find it warmer in Holland compliments to mr
Cutting, from your affectionate

A A

thursday P M.

just after writing this Letter, yours & mr. Cuttings was brought me by the post.
I was very glad to hear you were well and safe. mr cuttings Letter carried me to
Holland made me Sick on board the packet jostled me in the Waggon, in short so
pictureish were his descriptions that I realized them all. The little Boy is well and
perks up his Head like a Robbin. his Mamma has had a little of the Holland
disorder 8 bordering upon an ague. my
Ladyship is better. I send this to Harwick with order to forward it if you do not come
in Wednesdays packet, adieu—