Abigail Adams to John Quincy Adams, December 2, 1798

Quincy December 2d 1798

my dear son—

Last Evening I received your Letter of sep br. 4 th No 42— 1 accept my thanks. it grieved me to think how
anxious you must feel before an other Letter from my hand would reach you. I was
rejoiced to Learn that Thomas Welch was safely arrived at Hamburgh— I hope you will find
in him a true American, but as you observe your Brothers place cannot be supplied to
you. I am anxious least he should make a winters voyage here. our coast is dreadfull and
every storm will distress me, but He who careth for the fowls of heaven, and the small
sparrow of the Field will be his Guardian & protector, and I pray Him to return this
dear amiable son to his Parents and country in safety— 2

you judge and think so accurately respecting the affairs of your
Country, the conduct it ought to take, preserve and mantain, that every syllable you
write, ought to be made publick. I hope and trust that you will not be dissapointed in
the final result. I am sure you will not, if the advice and counsel of the Head of the
Nation is sufficiently attended to, but intrigue art and wickedness walk in darkness,
envy and ambition stand ready to seize the Reigns—and push the possessor from His
hold—but I trust this cannot be effected even by the aid and power of the Great Nation.
the Authentick account of Admiral Nelsons Glorious victory over the French fleet in
Rosetta Bay, has fortunately arrived before the meeting of Congress, and will I trust
have its influence in silencing the advocates for the Great Nation. Logan has returnd,
but neither he or those, who sent him will reap any Lawrels from his mission. he is much
despised by all federilist. we shall see what figure mr Gerrys correspondence with
Tallerand will make when publishd. he will not sink I trust more than he has already.
Gen ll Pinckney appears much the boldest firmest and most
decided Character. mr Marshall has sunk his Character very much with all his real
Friends by His answers to certain questions proposed to him by an Elector previous to
his voting for him as a Representitive to congress. I own I was astonishd that a Man of
his knowledge should condemn the Alien and sedition Bill, past the last session of
Congress, tho they were shaved and pared, to almost nothing. they have had a salutary
effect, weak as they are. can any Good thing come out of Nor can a Virginnian have a
clear Head? 3

I received a Letter from your Father on saturday—informing me of
his safe arrival on the 25 of November at Philadelphia. 4 I wrote you on the 15 of the last month in which
Letter I accounted to you for my long silence oweing to a dangerous sickness of three
months, and that my infirm state of Health prevented my accompanying your Father this
winter. during my sickness your Father wrote to you— 5

Since I wrote to you I have received a Letter from N York—in answer
to one I wrote upon receiving yours of July 25. I transcribe it. [“]my Brothers money
was secured upon mortgage. the first years interest I payd out of my own pocket. I was
prevaild upon to transfer that security for a Note to save colonel S——h from immediate
confinement. Mr Justice smith is the drawer of the Note, which is certainly Good in the
event, but oweing to the fall of the price of Land he has not been able to advance the
interest in time how could I write this to my Brother who would have charged me with
imprudence in the appropriation of his money, when had he been upon the spot, as much as
I have done would have been sanctiond by him. I have not enjoyd one moments comfort for
upwards of two years on this account, my sleep has been disturbed, and my waking hours
embitterd.” 6

I believe the account true because I learnt as much from sally last
Nov br twelve month upon which I cautiond you. Justice
smith lives upon his Lands and has a large tract in possession, but what he owes I know
not Charles you know, never had the power of resistance. I dare say his own property has
gone the same way. I have written Charles and blamed him for not writing you, and laying
facts before you in which case you would not have thought so hardly of him as from his
total silence you had reason to. I have also written dr Welch a second time desiring him
to transfer to dr Tufts his power and to commit your affairs to his Hands. Charles says
you have directed him to pay the interest now due to me, which he will do by the first
of Jan’ ry — I have not received any direction from you what
to do with it, but I shall deliver it to dr Tufts to be laid out in publick securitys.
if you had purchased with your money the defered stock—you would have done better than
you could any other way. our stocks rise, very little at market but in case of a war,
they would undoubtedly fall. 7 I think
however I should risk them;

your Aunt Cranch desires me to tell mrs Adams that her son is a
near Neighbour to her Father, that both he and mrs Cranch have found Parental attention
towards them mr Cranch removed to George Town, and took mr Cooks office at the request
of mr Johnson & has taken mr Johnsons buisness into
his Hands Both Families live in the greatest Harmony, and are mutually a comfort to each
other. I regreet that mrs Adams has got into a Habit which I fear will injure her
constitution. I Love her for the Good qualities she possesses, and rejoice that your
Heart trusteth in her. may she continue to do you good all the days of your Life.

The seperation from your Father this winter is a trial to me more
severe I think than formerly. the danger I was a long time in of a final seperation, has
only more closely bound us to each other, and having during our connection been so often
seperated, we wish the few years remaining to us might be spent together, but I early
learnt the lesson of sacrificing to the Publick. I do not write to my dear Thomas. I
hope to embrace him e’er long in his Native Land. with the Sincerest / and Warmest
affection / I am your Mother