Abigail Adams to John Quincy Adams, December 2, 1797

Philadelphia December 2 1797

my Dear , Start deletion, son , End,

I have the pleasure of informing you and Mrs Adams of the safe
arrival of mr Johnson and Family in George Town on the 25 of November, after a passage
of 60 Days. I heard from mr Cranch that the Family were all well. I had written to him
previous to their arrival to give me immediate notice of it, and I yesterday had the
Satisfaction of writing to mrs Johnson to congratulate her upon her arrival in America,
as I now do both you and my dear Daughter, for when I wrote last to you both; I was
under very serious concern for their safety tho I dared not to express it to you. 1

I wrote to you last week by way of Hamburgh, and inclosed to you
the speech at the opening of the Present Session of Congress. 2 I now send you the answer of the senate and
House. heitherto there has appeard a disposition to moderation Cander and uninimity. I
sincerely hope they will have but one object before them, the ultimate Good of the
Country. I sent you last week by way of Hamburgh a mess medly of News papers, from
different parts of the union, that you might see the politicks of them collectively
there were two or three Virgina papers which containd a Series of Numbers under the
signature of Aristidas. these have been published in the Washington Gazzet. I have
learnt from a correspondent there, that the supposed Author, is a Doctor Brown, Brother
of the senator of that name from Kentucky. he has lately returnd from Edinburgh where he
received a medical Education. he establishd himself in the city of Washington, and
became the founder of a Jacobinical club, at the Head of which was placed, a dr
Cuningham by Birth an Irishman and a Roman Catholic, but excommunicated for infidelity,
and now openly atheestical but a Justice of Peace , and a Distiller of Whisky —a man possesst of some talents with a smattering of
learning. the rest of the club were composed Chiefly of Foreigeners of no Education. in
this hopefull Society, publick measures were discusst and from this fountain, and
Similar ones, have issued most of the foul streams which have polluted our Country, from
Men of no Principles, no Religion, and no Country. Brown finding his sentiments not
Congenial to the taste of the inhabitants of Washington, removed to Kentucky as a Soil
more congenial to them. the design of these publications is to decry the Government of
the united states, and to recommend one similar to the French constitution, with a
directory. fortunately for America, the French are not Stationary enough in their
Political career, for to recommend their Government to Americans. The Age of frenzy I
hope is passed, and giving place to the Age of Reason, and cool reflection. I have been
thus minute in this History that you might know who are made use of, to spread the
Principles of anarchy and confusion amongst us. this city abounds in such Characters.
here is the focus, yet with all their exertions, there cause grows into disrepute, and
is daily weakning. should we be forced into a war, which God forbid, parties would again
assume a face of voilence

My Love to Thomas. I do not forget him tho I have not written to
him by these two last conveyences— I am most sincerely and / affectionatly yours
&c.