Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, January 28, 1800

Philadelphia Jan ry 28
1800

my Dear sister

I yesterday received Your Letter of the 19 th . I think You have testified Your proportion
of Respect in a handsome manner to the Memory of the good and virtuous
Washington— that he ought to live in our Memories, and be transmitted to
posterity as a Character truly worthy Imitation, is Right; but some Eulogyst
have asscribed to him solely, what was the joint effort & concert of
Many. to no one Man in America, belongs the Epithet of Saviour of his Country; that Washingtons
Character, when we take into view, his Education, the place of his Birth,
and the Various Scenes in which he was call’d to act, exhibits a most
uncommon assemblage of Modesty, Moderation Magninimity, fortititud
perseverence and disinterestedness, will be most readily allowed, but at no
time, did the fate of America rest upon the Breath of even a Washington, and
those who assert these things, are Ignorant of the spirit of
their countrymen, and whilst they Strive to exalt one character, degrade
that of their country these reflections have arrisen in My mind from reading
mr Paynes oration, and a Mad Rant of Bombast in a Boston centinal of a mr
Messenger— judge Minots oration is exempt from these reflections— , Start deletion, it is the cool mild and , End, wise and
judicious observations upon his Character are those only which will out live
the badges of mourning. 1 Simple Truth is his best his greatest Eulogy— she alone can render his Fame
immortal—

The News from France, is not that the Royall standard is
raised—but that a Triumvirate exists— 2 Buonaparta is an adventerous Man.
he is upon a Pinacle and with one foot only— we are yet alltogether in the
dark respecting his view’s. Time must develope them—but one volcano burst
forth after an other, and what current the lava will take; we must wait to
learn—

I send you the report upon citizen Randolphs Letter. 3 the young Man is like to
cost the Country more Money in the debate by the time it will take up, than
all his Services will be worth tho he lived to the age of an Anti-deluvian.
I have not a doubt that it was all a contrived buisness, by the Anti feds to
raise a ferment, to Spread amongst their constituents— see says the fly upon
the wheel, what a dust I raise— 4

I have had Letters from Berlin and the pleasure of
hearing that both mr & mrs Adams were in good health—the latest date to
30 October 5

when I wrote You last, I had had a sleepless Night. 6 I then have no spirits to
spair— I have had a turn of loosing my Sleep, but am not otherways Sick— I
have for the last three Night been very fortunate

Gen ll Lincoln is about to
return home by him I send a little packet which I request my sister to
accept. 7 pray desire Mrs
Porter to look to the Beds frequently— I shall have much to request your
care and attention to, as soon as you get through the Ordination. if the
spring is not more of winter than the winter itself, I hope the Building
will go up early in March the doors which must be cut through the Room &
chamber will require the Removal of all the furniture, and the painting of
Both which they now want. the glaseing of the front I would have done one of
the first things—and the alteration in the kitchin which I contemplated I
should like to have done, but the floor must be coverd—or painted again
afterwards. when the new building goes up the kitchin will be so darkned
that I must let the closset into it & take off a partition where the
dressers now are. I think it would
be best to run the partition along so as to take the Chamber door the cellar
& parlour Door into the entry this will Make the kitchin much warmer
& Screne the kitchin from the view of the parlour—but more of this
Soon—

Mrs smith is very unwell with a voilent cold Soar Throat
& some fever. She has kept her Chamber ever Since saturday. I hope She
is getting better— caroline is well. the rest of us in pretty good Health—
adieu my / Dear Sister I will write to mrs Black soon / yours

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