Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, June 23, 1797

Philadelphia June 23 1797

my dear sister

I received your Letter of June 13 th. and thank you for it. the account you give me respecting my House and the Farm are
very pleasing. I like your proposal of going to it and taking tea with my good
Neighbours very much— I am very sorry to hear that mrs Beal is so unwell. I have feard
that she would fall into a decline, for she has appeard to me, to look very unwell for
many Months. she was a good Neighbour, and would be a very heavy loss to her
Family.

I do flatter myself with the prospect of comeing to Quincy to
pass the Months of August and sep br I know it will be a
tedious Journey, but I fear it will be more tedious here, and the President really
suffers for want of a journey, or rather for want of some Relaxation. to day will be
the 5 th great dinner I have had, about 36 Gentlemen to
day, as many more next week, and I shall have got through the whole of Congress, with
their apendages— then comes the 4 July which is a still more tedious day, as we must
then have not only all Congress, but all the Gentlemen of the city, the Govenour and
officers and companies, all of whom the late President used to treat with cake punch
and wine. what the House would not hold used to be placed at long tables in the Yard.
as we are here, we cannot avoid the trouble nor the expence. I have been informd the
day used to cost the late President 500 dollors. more than 200 wt of cake used to be expended, and 2 quarter casks of wine besides Spirit.
you will not wonder that I dread it, or think President Washington to blame for
introducing the custom, if he could have avoided it. Congress never were present here
before on the day, so that I shall have a Hundred & 50 of them in addition to the
other company. long tables are sit in the House with Similar entertainment. I hope the
day will not be Hot. I am like to be favour’d with a cool one to day at which I
rejoice for it is no small task to be sit at table with 30 Gentlemen.

Judge Dana declines his appointment. I feard he would as the
state of his Health has been infirm the President has now nominated mr Gerry. this I
know will be cavill’d at by some, and he will be blamed for it, but the responsibility
rest with him, and he must bear it. he would not have nominated him if he had not
thought him, an honest Man and a Friend to his Country, who will neither be deceived
nor Warped— I hope he will not refuse.

The task of the President is very arduous, very perplexing and
very hazardous. I do not wonder Washington wishd to retire from it, or rejoiced at
seeing and old oak in his place— he has manifested his intire approbation of the
measures persued by the Executive. 1

I thank you for your care of my things. let mrs Hunt know that
Nabby is well and I believe contented and that I shall want Betsy if I come as I
expect, and I shall stand in need of some more female help—particuliarly a cook— I
might here of some black woman in Boston perhaps who would undertake for two Months. I
wish you would inquire

I want to have the House White Washd. I will thank you to see a
little about it. it will be well to have the Garden attended to.

I inclose you a Ribbon, I met With the other day, and I sent
cousin Betsy a short Gown to show her the fashion, by mrs douse who was to send it to
Boston to mr smiths. I hope it will fit her— 2

adieu my dear sister. / I am, most affectionatly / yours

A Adams

I have not seen a speech more to the point than Gen ll shepards but old Men do not take so much pains to
circulate their Fame as young ones. I inclose it for mr Cranch. 3 let me know if you get Fennos papers now if
you do not I will send them to you Love to all Friends. tell Polly Baxter, that I
shall miss her very much when I come to Quincy, particuliarly in cooking Betsy Howard
I think is better, tho not able to go through but little—