Abigail Adams to John Quincy Adams, September 13, 1801

Quincy Sep br 13 1801

Welcome, Welcome, my dear Son to your native Land after a seven
years absence from it, God be praised that you and Louissa, and my dear John George
&c have arrived in Safety. but I have trembled for you, least the extreem Heat you
must have experienced since your arrival Should be too much for you all. the Sudden
change we have experienced of no less than 30 degrees, is equally trying to weak
constitutions. I hope it is not Sickly at Washington, but last october Agues and fevers
were very prevelant; I can have no objection to the visit first to Washington, but say
to you as I did in my last Letter, that it should not
exceed the middle of october 1 it is a
long and tedious jouney, but both you and Mrs Adams are well ennured to travelling. at
Quincy You can be accomodated with your Family untill You can do better;— we ardently
long to see you all—

Mrs Adams is going to a place, different from all she has ever yet
visited, and amongst a people, where it will be impossible for her to be too gaurded;
every Syllable She utters will be Scaned not with loss of candour, but carping malice;
Such is the Spirit of party. think not that I veiw the aspect of public affairs through
the medium of dissapointment, unhappily for our Country, you will find it all too true—
I doubt not She will be , Start deletion, the , End, prudent; but her Family
have been very basely traduced— there are persons no doubt hungrying after mr
Johnso[n’s] office: I hope however he will retain it, as it was the casting vote of the
new President, which gave it to him— 2

You too my Son must look for your share of calumny, and arm
yourself will against it by patience temperance and moderation, and by applying yourself
solely to your own private affairs— I hope you will be here Soon. I have a thousand
things to say to you, but none with more Sincerity / than that I am your ever /
affectionate / Mother

A Adams