Abigail Adams to John Quincy Adams, May 30, 1789

Braintree May 30th 1789

my dear son

I have sent you the Cloth the coat & Boots. the Glass I have not yet been able to
find. inclosed is an other article the amount of what I engaged to you. The Horse I had
engaged to keep for a Gentleman till Monday next, so that I could not without forfeiting
my word let him go till twesday provided I should not sell him to him. I am sorry, for
if I should not part with him then: I should not make any further trial and
should be glad to get him to you as soon as possible— when I got home on twesday
Evening, I received a Letter from your Father in which he says after many deliberations
he has concluded that I shall not come on, untill the House pass some resolution
respecting him. this I think the most prudent desicion, for to be there with a thousand
wants & demands & no resources is much worse than being here at any rate. it has
given me a little farther respit. I must request you in my absence to attend to your
Brother Tom, to watch over his conduct & prevent by your advice & kind
admonitions, his falling a prey to vicious Company. at present he seems desirious of
persueing his studies preserving a character and avoiding dissipation, but no youth is
secure whilst temptations surround him, and no age of Life but is influenced by habits
& example, even when they think their Characters formed. I have many anxious hours
for Charles, and not the fewer, for the new scene of life into which he is going, tho I
think it will be of great service to have him with his Father, & more to take him
intirely away from his acquaintance. I have written to him upon some late reports which
have been circulated concerning him. 1 I
hope they are without foundation, but such is the company in which he is seen that he
cannot fail to bear a part of the reproach even if he is innocent. if you should be able
to send again, next week let me know one day before hand, & the Name of the person
by whom you send, for if I had sent the Horse to Brackets I should not have known whom
to have inquired for— I have not heard from your uncle since we left him, I hope he is
better—

The Bundle I shall send this day to mr Smiths— pray write me and let me know how you do
from time to Time. Yours most affectionatly

A Adams

PS I received a line from W C. that the Gentleman by whom you sent for the Horse was
gone to Pownalborough 2 it was well I
did not send him to Town. I do not know how you will get him unless you come to Boston
for him in the course of the week. Brislers Note is inclosed 3