Abigail Adams to John Quincy Adams, October 22, 1803

Quincy October 22 d 1803

My dear Son

I received your Letter from Providence and rejoiced in the
favorable account you gave of your journey thus far, but a Letter Since received by your
Sister dated at Newark gave us all much anxiety upon Mrs Adams’s account. 1 We hope her disorder was only occasiond by over
fatigue; and that a little rest would restore her. She is a veteran in journeying, and
has frequently gone through what would appal stoughter constitutions than hers, yet we
shall feel a degree of uneasiness untill We learn your safe arrival at Washington.

Your Sister leaves us tomorrow for N-York. we have not recoverd our spirits occasiond by your long expected absence
which we feel most keenly, and now she leaves a void, without any one to supply her
place; Thomas I hope will come to us, yet I fear he will not be happy; he will feel his
Situation too sensibly to be at ease; I know he will meet with mortifications of various
kinds. yet he had better encounter them than remain where he is. he has promised to
converse with you. I hope he has done it with freedom—

We have not any thing new to communicate, except the death of the
late Govr Adams our family were sent to by Mrs Adams & yours to attend as Relatives.
Your Father Sister and Louissa went, and Mrs Adams rode to the funeral with your Sister
in our Carriage; it is said the Republicans were much
gratified upon the occasion— 2 We look to
your city for the Great and the Marvelous;

My Love to Mrs Adams Caroline & George. a kind remembrance to
Mrs Johnson and family Let Judge Cranch know that his Father & Mother are well as
are his sisters and their families—

My own Health has been daily mending since you left me. I have been
three Sundays to meeting, to day all day, and I rode to Weymouth & back the same day
last week.

I fear through neglect, you left in Louissas Room all your Neck
handkerchiefs pocket Handkerchiefs &c I found many in a draw there, which I suppose
you must have designd to have taken—

Let us hear from you as often as you can. if I cannot Scrible with
freedom—I can at least, tell you the state of the weather and the health or sickness of
Your Friend’s

Your affectionate Mother

A. A.—