Abigail Adams to Margaret Smith, March 22, 1788

London Grosvenour Square April [ March? ] 22
178[ 8 ] 1

Madam

Altho I have heithertoo felt a diffidence in addressing a Lady with whom I have not the
pleasure of a personal acquaintance, I cannot upon this occasion permit my only Daughter
to present herself to you in her new Relation, without requesting your kind and parental
Reception of her. 2 I have the greatest
reason to hope, that she will prove to you, what she has ever been to me, a dutifull and
affectionate Daughter.

I have frequently been call’d in the course of my Life to very painfull seperations
from some of my nearest and dear connections, but this is the first time that I have
Sufferd a seperation from her, and it is the more painfull, as she has always been my
companion and associate and I have no other Daughter to supply her place— but I have the
Satisfaction and pleasure of knowing that she has one of the kindest and tenderest of
Husbands, and every reason to believe that she will find in you Madam an affectionate
Friend, and parent, and in the Ladies your Daughters, kind and indulgent Sisters. She
has my dear Madam a natural reserve in her manners which I hope will not make an
unfavorable impression upon her Friends. the Relationship of sister, is a character She
has no remembrance of, and must in some measure plead for her Native reserve, for she is
a very Silent Character, and in that respect very unlike her mamma.

For my Lovely Grandson I need ask no favour he has the claim of nature upon you, and
will make his own way into your Heart, by his innocent Smiles and winning
attractions.

I cannot however close this Letter without requesting you to enjoin upon your Son a
particular care and attention to his Health. I am apprehensive that the Heat of our
American Summers will, will renew and increase those complaints under which he has so
severely Sufferd. I am the more urgent upon this subject, because I do not think he is
himself sensible, in how critical a situation an attack of this disorder in a Hot Season, may prove to him. The utmost caution both in diet
and exercise are absolutly necessary for him

I beg leave Madam to present my Regards to every branch of your Family. with some of
them I feel a degree of acquaintance from a perusal of their Letters, particularly with
the lively Sprightly Bell 3 and I
anticipate with pleasure the day—Heaven Grant it may not be far distant, when we shall
arrive in our Native Country, and I shall one day have the happiness of personally
assureing you, with how much Esteem / I am Madam your / Humble Servant

Abigail Adams