Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, June 19, 1798

Quincy 1 19 June 1798

my dear sister

I expected to have heard from you on Saturday, but no Letter came
and on Wedensday but still no Letter. I was dissapointed, but knowing your many
avocations I concluded it must arise from thence. I hope not from Sickness tho you wrote
me you was not well. I who have more leisure, and no care of Family affairs but my order
can and do devote almost every morning in writing to some Friend or other.

You will hear before this reaches you of the arrival of mr Marshall
at Nyork. mr Pinckney is gone to the South of France, with a permit, for the Health of a
daughter suposed in a consumption. mr Gerry stays untill he hears from our Government
which as appears to me, is a very wrong step. 2 The Government you will be informd received last
week an other dispatch of a Letter from Talleyrand, and a very lengthy reply by our
Envoys—which being in a press copy & part cypher, two copies being to be prepared of
it, could not be got ready in one or two days— in the mean time Talleyrand had sent out
to Bache his Letter, for to be publishd here, & without, the replie of our Envoys.
this he exaltingly gave to the publick on saturday. 3 it really appears a very fortunate circumstance
that, our Government, should have received tho by an other conveyance the dispatches
about the same time and so soon be able to counteract the villany intended by
Talleyrand. it has an other good effect, that of convincing the most unbelieving—of the
close connection between the Infernals of France & those in our own Bosoms, and in
any other Country Bache & all his papers would have been seazd and ought to be here, but congress are dilly dallying about
passing a Bill enabling the President to seize suspisious persons—and their papers— we
shall be favourd soon I suppose with the pamphlet written by the Clerk in Talleyrands
office— 4 all this however works for
good, and will tend to work out our Salvation I hope. I will send the papers as soon as
publishd. in the mean time I send you some pamphlets to be distributed for the publick
Benifit, and Send one in my Name to mrs Webb with my compliments— 5

We are all well but a servant who has been voilently attackd with
an inflamitory Soar Throat, & very dangerously sick for several days. We hope he has
past the worst.

the Season has not yet been uncommonly Hot. I am weary of
conjectures, so shall say nothing of when it is probable Congress will rise. I believe
they will decarle War against the French first.

Mr Marshalls arrival will hasten the buisness— o mr Gerry! mr
Gerry, that You had but been wise enough, & resolute enough to have come too.

mrs Malony got home yesterday morning, in six days— I have not seen
her, I have only heard that She is come— with a kind remembrance to all Friend yours

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