Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, February 6, 1798

Philadelphia Feb’ ry 6 th 1798

my dear sister

I was very anxious to receive a Letter from you this morning, and
Betsy was wishing yet dreading to hear from her sister. that she yet lives, is some
hope for to build upon. mr Brisler has just brought your Letter from the office dated
29 th Jan’ ry 1 I believe I have written you every week, but
fancy the Ice may have prevented the post from arriving. I wish Polly was where you
could often see her— I have a great opinion of cabbage leaves I would apply them to
her feet, to her neck & to her Head. 2 you know how opprest she always was at her Lungs if any thing ailed her— I want to
be doing some thing for her. tell her I am very anxious for her and hope she may yet
recover, but great care and tenderness is necessary or she will be lost. pray take
care, but why should I ask what I am sure is always done. pray tell mr Cranch to take
great care of himself, and my dear sister my cellar is always open to you. do not let
so good a man want wine to make his Heart glad, when you know where it can be had with
a hearty welcome— I have written to dr Tufts to get my Room & chamber new painted
and that as soon as it can be done in March the closset floor & the entrys and
stairs they will have time then to dry Sufficiently. I had a letter on saturday from
mrs smith 3 the col returnd last week
and has notified his Credittors to meet him in order to adjust with them his affairs.
I cannot suppose that he has it in his power to satisfy the Demands they have, but if
he can settle so as to be able to do any buisness in future it will be a great relief
to my mind as well as to hers—but I am affraid of Vissions—of Ideal Schemes &c at
any rate I am glad he has returnd. 4 it
really seemd to me at times, as if mrs smith would lose herself. She has sometimes
written me that existance was a burden to her, and that she was little Short of
Distraction. I have been more distresst for her than I have been ready to own. you
know she always kept every thing to herself that she could, but she writes in better
Spirits, and is at least relieved from that worst of states, I think, a constant
anxious expectation, and anticipation—

I have had Letters from my sons abroad to october. they were then
well, but none since they left London. I hope they are safe at Berlin long before this
time. you saw a Letter or rather an extract of a Letter in the Centinal from , Start deletion, J Q A , End, —dated as if written at Paris about a fortnight
since in order the better to disguise the source. it is probable you
may see publishd from Fennos paper some observations upon the operation of the French
constitution as exemplified in the transactions of the 4 sep’ br by the same hand. 5

you complain of always having a share of Rhumatism, that is just
my case. I have it floting about, sometimes in my head Breast stomack &c. but if I
can keep of fever I can Parry it so as not to be confined. dr Rush is for calling it
Gout, but I will not believe a word of all that for Rhumatism I have had ever since I
was a Child when I feel any thing like fever, nitre in powder of about 6 Grains with a
6 part of a Grain of tarter Emetic & a 6 part of a Grain of Calomil in each taking
3 powders in a day, generally relieves me— 6

Inclosed is a ten dollor Bill out of which be so good as to give
two to the widow Green mr Pratts Mother, 7 and to pay sister smith for the stockings knit, and supply her with Cotton buy
Pheby a load of wood if necessary. I know you Love to be my almoner. I wish it was in
my power to do more abundantly. if there is any thing in the way of oranges milk
Bisquit &c. which will be for Pollys comfort do be so kind as to procure it for
her and send to her for me—

I hope captain & mrs Beal are recoverd and that mr & Mrs
Black are well I pray you to remember me to Brother Adams & Family when you see
them. my Love to mrs Norten to mrs Greenleaf, & respects to mrs Welch / From Your
Ever / affectionate Sister

Abigail Adams

when you see mrs Pope, ask her about the Butter, the quantity
& price. I Should wish to pay for it, as well as two or three of her Cheses—