Abigail Adams to John Bowring, March 1, 1788

[ ante 30 March 1788 ]

Sir

your obliging favour of Feb ry 27 was brought me in the
absence of mr Adams, who is gone to Holland upon publick buisness, and who upon his
return will be so much hurried & occupied that I fear he will not be able to attend
at all to the demands of private Frindship accept from me sir as his Representitive our
mutual acknowledgments for the obliging civilities we received at Exeter & every
other place where your family connextions extended, and I assure you sir with great
Sincerity that we look back upon the Six weeks we spent in visiting Devonshire & its
environs as the most agreeable journey we have made in this Country— 1

The death of my Brother in Laws two Brothers will be an afflictive intelligence to him
& his family, yet one of them has been long lost to his Family and Friends and the
other had arrived at a period of Life beyond which few can expect to pass. 2 their amiable and virtuous Characters will
always afford a pleasing satisfaction to their surviving Relatives to whom I wish every
consolation under their present Bereavement, to yourself and Family, every success in
Life, which your Integrity of Character, your industry merit & virtue so justly
intitle you to

I am sir with / Sincere Esteem / your Humble Servant

A Adams