Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, April 24, 1800

Philadelphia April 24 th 1800

my Dear sister

It is with great pleasure my dear sister that I can
say to you, Your Son has recoverd from a Dangerous complaint which threw
us all here into great Distress and anxiety upon his account. he returnd
from court sick. it proved to be a Billious Cholic. mr Johnson wrote Mrs
Johnson that he had been to see him, but that he was so ill that he
could not be seen. the Children too were all Sick, and she poor creature
just recovering from a late illness So that it was a House of Distress;
you may be sure what we all sufferd untill the pleasing news of his
restoration reached us. I wrote to her, but have not yet received an
answer. Mr Greenleaf also wrote & waited only to hear to have sit
off to her, if mr Cranch’s illness had required him. when I wrote last
to You, I dared not hint the Subject to you, to so far distant and know
that a dear child is ill, and that we cannot render any aid to them is
painfull in the extreem. 1 Mrs Johnson says he often rides late at Night in order to get back to
his family. this he should avoid— I know his last years low spirits was
in some measure occasiond by a slow aguish intermitting. he has lately
obtaind a cause of considerable concequence in which he spoke near two
hours, and did himself much honour—mr Mason too his opponent. he will do
very well if he will but think himself the Most sensible & capable
Man with whom he is acquainted. I think I can be reconciled to go to the
city, if I can aid and serve him by any means. he has been crampt, hurt
& wounded by his situation. Mrs Johnson says col Forrest has been a
very sincere Friend to him—

April 26 th

Since writing the above I have heard twice from
Washington. Mr Greenleaf who lodges at the next Door sent me in a Letter
to read from his sister. she writes mr
Cranch had been very ill but was then so much recoverd as to have gone
again to court to finish his buisness there. yesterday mr G——f informd
me that he had a Letter from Eliot who wrote him that mr Cranch was
quite recoverd

Mrs Johnson is still with me. she will return next
week, when I shall seriously sit about getting away— my last Drawing
Room is notified for the 2 d of May— on
thursday we had 28 young or rather unmarried Ladies and Gentlemen to
dine with us. they were from Families with which our Young people have
been most intimate, and who had shewn them many attentions &
civilities. just before I rose from table, Thomas came round to me and
whisperd me: have You any objection to my having a dance this Evening?
none in the world, provided it comes thus accidential; the company soon
came up to the Drawing Room to Tea, and in an hours time, the tables
were removed, the lights light & the Room all in order. at 8 the
dancing commenced, at 12, it finishd— more pleasure ease and enjoyment I
have rarely witnessd. the President went down about an hour & then
retired. I tarried it out, but was obliged to go to Bed at 8 oclock last
night in concequence— Several of the company declared that they should
always remember the Evening as one of the pleasentesst of their Lives—
amongst the company was miss B——m, with manners perfectly affable,
polite and agreable, with out affectation, or any haughtyness of
Demeanour, but really fassinating; I could not but lament, that the
uncoverd bosom should display, what ought to have been veild, or that
the well turnd, and finely proportiond form, Should not have been less
conspicuous in the dance, from the thin drapery which coverd it. I wishd
that more had been left to the imagination, and less to the Eye— she
dances elegantly. “Grace was in all her steps” 2 she is not yet 17 and tho she
cannot be said to have regular features, she has fine teeth and Eyes,
and the Winning graces, far superiour to inanimate Symetry. I never
could endure a clod, yet it has been my lot—to have met with them. in the first instanc Education
and example may do allmost any thing, in the last, who can make an
impression but whither runs my pen?

I must stop it to talk about domestic affairs— has
Mrs Porter got any help? and do you know where I can get a steady body?
a cook is of the most concequence. I must not have one who will be put
out of humour by company comeing in unexpectedly. she must be willing
upon washing & Ironing days to assist in the after part of the Day
to fold cloaths & to help Iron if necessary—to keep every thing
clean and neat in her department She will be assisted when necessary— if Mrs Briggs, will
comply with these terms, and an other, which is indispensable, to have
no concern or inteference with mrs Porters Family—I shall like to have
you engage her for me; with respect to the building, will you tell mr
Bates that I think there ought to be a portico over the back entry Door
as well as front. it will serve to keep off the Rains & cold in
winter— I am quite impatient to get a Letter from You— we have had such
fine weather that I should suppose our people may go on rapidly. I left
word for mr Beal to paint the floor of the chamber over the washhouse
& the stairs, if it was not done in the fall. I would have it done
as soon as the Painters come—and pray my sister, tell them to lay out
for Garden enough— Peas had best be bought for Seed beside those which
we have. I inclose you ten Dollors to lay out such part as is necessary
for the Garden do not let my flowers be neglected. pray if you can get
me Some stursion seed double Larks spur and the Marble perue— 3

Mr Gore is here just arrived from England. 4 our Envoys were not arrived at
Paris when he let England— they were hastning on. Great Britain as surly
as John Bull—tho he dare not Growl loud, hating our Prosperity most
cordially, and Swelling to see our Navy rising in power and
respectability. we have quite as much to gaurd against from that
quarter, as from the Great nation

adieu my dear sister. Let me hear from you as soon as
you can— affectionatly yours

A Adams—