Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, January 7, 1800

Philadelphia Jan ry 7 th 1800

my dear sister

I know not what could have become of a Letter written to
You upon the 18 of December, that upon the 30 th You should not have received it.— I have written You more than once since
that period, but do not recollect the Dates— I forget whether it was before
or since then; that I inclosed to you a croun of a cap & Band. since,
that I have sent the Border and a Cap for Mrs Norten, which I think You
could not yet have got. I have not learnt whether mrs Black has got my
Letter & the cap sent to her by a mr Whitney— 1 I should greatly regreet that any
obstical Should prevent the settlement of mr Whitney with us. I would most
certainly accommodate him if it was in my power, but my sons whole Library
is at the House in which mr Clark lives, beside some cumbersome furniture
which I have not Yet any place for—

Thomson Baxter once offerd his House and place to the
President for a thousand pounds. 2 that is a large sum for a
Clergyman, yet if it could be had for that, would it not prove much Cheeper
than building. 40 acres of land belongd to it— the poor old incumbent might
be had into the Bargain I suppose, but who knows but if mr Whitney could get the place, and
marry a woman kind and attentive to the old Gentleman who would clean &
brush him up, but that it might prove advantageous to them. I only Suggest
the Idea— I received my Gown & mrs smith safe, by mr sheaff Yesterday. I
thank you for your care & mr & mrs smith for theres

our Boston Printers are great blunderers in the answer to
the Senates address of condolance. they make him say a Trojan , instead of a “Trajan found a Pliny” and in an paper they
say the Senate sent a Letter of condolance, where as the truth is, the
senate came in a Body and presented the address—which address is said to
have been drawn by mr Dexter, a New England Man certain no southern Man
quotes Scripture— 3 Mr shaw
returnd Yesterday from Mount Vernon. he was much gratified by his tour, tho
regreeted that he did not see Mrs Washington; she strove the whole time he
was there which was two days to get resolution sufficient to see him, but
finally excused herself. she had the painfull task to perform, to bring her
mind to comply with the request of Congress, which she has done in the
handsomest manner possible in a Letter to the President which will this day
be communicated to congress— 4 she wrote me in replie to my Letter an answer repleat with a sense of my
sympathy, and expressive of her own personal grief and anguish of mind. 5 mr Lear told mr shaw that
She had not been able to Shed a tear since the Gen lls Death, untill she received the Presidents and My Letters when
she was two hours getting through them, tho they were not Lengthy— on his
return he visited your son who he says is in good Health & spirits—as is
mrs Cranch. Richard he says is not well—tho not confined. Mr Greenleaf was
with them. I fear mr Greenleaf is not a wise counsellor. mr Cranch would a
year before he did have taken the step of relinquishing his Property if it
had not been for mr Greenleafs advice. he certainly would have been better
off as his friends say—I am glad he had resolution enough at last to decide
for himself—

I have just closed a Letter to mrs Cranch of west point,
having obtaind a promise from the Seretary of War that he shall have a place
at Harpers ferry which he expects will be vacant in the sping and that in
the mean time he shall be employd where he is— 6

I Made mrs Brisler happy yesterday by Your Letter
containing the information that mrs Mears was better she had burried her in
her own mind, and when I went to tell her, she was so overcome expecting the
news was fatal that she shook so I thought she would have gone into fits no two sisters were
ever fonder of each other— I hope mrs mears will recover—

inclosed is Gen ll Lees
oration. it is a handsome performance. I will send you the pamphlet when it
is out— 7 We have charming
weather— adieu my dear sister. I am going to take mrs otis out to Ride she
has been very unwell with one of her old hoars colds & coughs which
still hangs about her— 8