Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, May 7, 1798

Philadelphia May 7 th 1798

my dear sister

mr Black got here on thursday night. I was rejoiced to see him. it
seemd next to being at home. I yesterday received your Letter of April 29th. 1 I had heard before both of Sukys’ death and my
dear little Mary’s. I felt hers the more sensibly, because she was more endeared to me
from having been more with me than either of the other Children. my Heart is grieved for
mr & Mrs smith who for this month past have seen one continued scene of affliction
from the repeated Bereavements of Friends, and Relatives. 2 if any thing can effectually wean & detach
us from this world, it is the loss of those who render Life pleasent and agreable to us.
yet we are apt to cling closer to those which remain, and Even What are call’d Mrs
Thrails three warnings in her dialogue between death and Man, are insufficent too
frequently to find us ready to depart, loss of Limbs, loss of sight & loss of
Hearing— 3 I recollect my Mother once
Said to me after she was Eighty four years old, I really believe
if I was now sick, I should want to get well again— so strong a principle is the
Love of Life, if it was not for the sure and certain hope of a superiour state of
existance beyond this transitory scene of Noise Bustle pain & anxiety—We should be
of all beings the most misirable— The Present state of the world exhibits in the
Revolution of France one of the most astonishing spectacles ever acted upon the stage to
scourge the Nations of the Earth. Voltair Predicted that Popery should be overturnd by
Atheism.— 4 what is to be our future
Lot, and destiny, remains to be unfolded— I hope we may still Continue to be “that happy
people saved of the Lord” 5 that we were
sinking into a state of Langour of Supineness of Effimanancy & Luxery is but too
evident from our Standing in need of such severe & repeated Scourging to arouse us
to a sense of danger; and to compell us to rise in defence of our Religion our Liberties
& independance. We are to day at 12 oclock to have a moveing and stricking
spectacle, no less than between 7 & 8 Hundred young Men from 18 to 23 in a Body to
present an address— upon this occasion the President puts on his uniform, and the whole
House will be thrown open to receive them. a number of Ladies will be present upon the
occasion with me. the address and replie will appear in the paper and I will send it
you— 6

I was pleasd with mr Nortens choice of a Text for the Subject of his Fast Sermon. Peter I see in his paper of
Saturday has been thinking upon the same subject that Man is a very extraordinary Creature. 7 when
he pleases he writes admirably, and is the greatest Scourge of the french Faction which
they have in the Country. his shafts are always tipt with wit, and his humour is such as
frequently to excite more of good than ill.

I inclose to you a number of Letters from my son’s; Some I have
sent for mrs Johnson to read, who has not yet received any Letters. mrs Johnson in her
last Letter writes me, that mr Johnson had invited mr Cranch to come to George Town and
take an office vacant by the death of a mr Cook a Nephew of mr Johnsons. she says mr
Johnson had put all his papers into mr Cranchs Hands. I hope mr Cranch will find in mr
Johnson an alleviation for the loss of mr deakings. has he written you any thing upon
the subject? mr Greenleaf has liberty to go out daily which he does. he may be attended
by an officer, and I believe he is—but his confinement is not close as it was— I have
ever been an advocate for his intentions, but it is very hard for those who are smarting
under the presure of a loss of all they possesst, and that without the least beneifit
derived from him, to be reduced with their Families, from affluence, to poverty and
indigence, to refrain from bitter reflections, and imputations inconsistant with candour
and a confidence in the integrity of his heart. I never knew untill this week, that our
Friend mr Smith of Boston was a looser by him to the amount Eighteen thousand dollors—
do not however mention it to mr Smith, as he never hinted the thing himself to me— What
a Besom of destruction is this Spirit of Speculation?

I hope our people will proceed with the buildings as tho I was to
be at Quincy the beginning of June. I regreet as the Roof is raised that the building
was not continued the whole length of it, but the dr did not think of so extensive a
plan, any more than I did at first, and the plan which he writes that he inclosed, to me
never came to Hand— let me know how it progresses— 8 have you got the Box I sent to Betsy? 9 the weather has been as Hot for this fortnight
past as it was last year in June. the Country looks delightfull. I ride almost every day
and enjoy it. I fear we shall be detaind here much longer than I wish. I would have the
building painted a stone coulour, and I hope the dr poor man if he is able will have the
out side of the House painted over white as it now is, but it wants a new coat— I wish
the dr would try calomil upon himself. I have a great opinion of its efficacey. return me the Letters as soon as
you have read them— Love & respects to all inquiring Friends from Your /
affectionate sister

A Adams