Abigail Adams to John Quincy Adams, November 23, 1797

Philadelphia Nov br 23 d 1797

my Dear Son

I am under obligations to you my dear son, for keeping up so
regularly, and so constantly your correspondence with me; notwithstanding your various
publick employments and private engagements, and I consider myself as very fortunate in
receiving your Letters, tho frequently of an old date, owing to the circuitous route
they have to make.

By mr Fisher of this city I received a few Days Since the joint
Letter written by you and your amiable partner; accompanied by the Sattin, which is very
excellent. 1 I did not receive with it
any Bill of it, nor have I received any account of the cost of my watch. I cannot by any
means assent to this. I had no intention to lay a Tax upon you. I therefore request you
to send me an order to pay the amount to Dr Welch, or your Brother Charles who I know
have your pecuniary affairs in their hands. I have written to you already upon this
Subject.

I had hoped I should have been able by this Time, to have
congratulated you and my Dear Daughter upon the arrival of her Parents in America. I
shall not fail of giving the earliest intelligence to you. Your Friend mr otis has spent
the Evening here, and says young mr Johnson is very well. he will come on as soon as his
Parents arrive.

I will send you by this opportunity Some Newspapers. the reason why
I have not been more attentive on this subject, is that I knew the secretary of state was to send you regularly the papers from hence. I supposed
the postage must be a heavy Charge. at present the papers contain little besides the
affairs of Europe Which you have much nearer to you, than we have, or desire to have

your Father and I left Philadelphia as soon after the rising of
Congress in july last, as we could, and we have been absent near four Months. we were
detaind a Month longer than we intended by the breaking out of that deadly disease, the
yellow fever in this city, which but for the fleeing of the inhabitants to the number of
thirty Thousand, would have made as great ravage as in the year 1793 the Frost only puts
a stop to it. we returnd here on the 11 th , Congress were
adjournd to the 13th, but oweing to the dread of that Disease they have not been able to
make a Congress untill this day.

Mr Hall arrived in N York on the 7 th . I
saw him a few moments only. he brought your Letters of August 10 & 31, and sep’ br 11th which is the latest date received from you. the papers
and Books he also deliverd, but fears he has lost a Ring which he says he had for me. I
fancy it was a lock of my New Daughters Hair I the more regreet it, as I suppose it came
from her. 2

I have received a Letter from you july 6th dated Maasluys one of
july 28 and one of july 29th. tho I have before acknowledgd the receipt of all these
Letters, yet I repeat it, as this may possibly reach you before those; I have inclosed
to you a duplicate of a Letter from your Father, in hopes that the reasons alledged in
it for a change of your mission, will satisfy Your scruples. I am also desired to
forward to you a Letter from the President of Harvered Colledge. 3 in a former Letter I informd you that you were
unanimously Elected a Member of the Academy of Arts and Sciencies, at their last
meeting.

The affairs of Europe are so Surrounded with clouds, and enveloped
in darkness, that the wisest Politicien with the most Scientific Eye cannot penetrate
their mazes, nor trace the regular Confusion. The raging of the Sea, and the Tumult of
the people have been aptly compared; who can say to either, thus far shalt thou go, and
no further, and here shall thy proud waves be stayed; or peace be Still. None but He who
rides in the Whirlwind, and directs the storm, can calm the contending Nations. unto him
I commit “the hour the Day, the Year,” and view with Awe this astonishing
Revolution. 4 happy indeed if we may be
permitted to escape the calamities of War, tho cruelly Buffeted and Maltreated. the
opening Session of Congress will soon develope the sentiments of the
people, who have heitherto been disposed to bless them, who have cursed them, and do
good to those who have despightfully used them; you will find the sentiments of the
President unchanged, as his Speech will shew you. he therefore in few words rcommends to
the two Houses the former system. 5 I can
write to you only in general terms without that freedom of communication which is
desirable, but which might expose more than myself.

Your old school mate Bache goes on in his old way loosing
altogether the Character of Gentleman, by a low malicious kind of abuse and scurility.
if he ever had any of the milk of Humane kindness, it is all turnd to vinigar, and I
believe he is a very misirable Being, for he cannot but feel, that all good Men despise
him, and who is hardy enough to brave contempt?

I fear your Father will not get time to write at all by this
opportunity, as he is overwhelmd with Buisness at this Time—

This Day we have the first official account of the arrival of
Gen’ ll Marshall and mr Gerry and of their proceeding to
France, but from whence are we to look for justice? 6

I will write to mrs Adams and to Thomas if I can by this
opportunity. our Friends are all well. my own Health has been much mended by my frequent
journeys and your Father supports the fatigues of his office much better than I
expected; The vice President has not yet arrived. he is detained by a suit at Law in
which he is much interested. Mr Read of Carolina is President pro Tem. 7 I am my Dear Son with the sincerest wishes for
your Health and prosperity your ever affectionate / Mother

A Adams