Abigail Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, October 1, 1797
Quincy october 1 st 1797
my dear Madam
I acknowledg myself indebted to you for two kind Letters, 1 both of which found me in circumstances of
distress; the first which came to me before I went to Philadelphia, I fully intended to
have replied to at the Time, but the many cares and avocations which at that time
occupied my mind, preparitory to my going, and the peculiar melancholy circumstance of
the Death of my Mother and Neice within a day or two of each other, not only arrested me
in my journey, but added to the cares with which I had before felt myself opprest. to
you therefore, who have so frequently been summoned on like Solemn occasions, I need
make no further appology.
your Last kind Letter, which I had no right to expect, and was
therefore received as a pledge of a Friendship which bears the stamp of Time, and which
I hope will endure with our Lives, however we may discent upon some Subjects, upon that
of Mutual good will esteem, and real affection I trust we shall be ever united, and your
Letter expressive of it should have met a ready reply, but I was dissabled both with my
Eyes and Hands, having met an accident in a carriage which like to have cost me my Life—
I have however recoverd so as to leave only a small scar behind.
Your kind invitation to visit you in the, only stile which can ever
be agreable to me, that of Hospitality and freedom, would have given both mr Adams &
myself great pleasure. a promise which he made to the secretaries, of not being absent
from Quincy more than one day at a Time, that their communications might always find
him, has confined him to this place ever since his return. one only visit have I made,
and that to my sister in New Hampshire. I fulfilld two duties, that of visiting a very
dear sister, which I had not done before, since her residence & Marriage in that
state, and placing my two Grandsons at an accademy there, and in her Family and under
her inspection, that they may receive a Genuine New England Education which I am Yanky
enough to prefer to any other I have yet seen.
We leave this place in a few days, without knowing where we are to
Stop. 2 the distrest state of a city
which seems devoted to Calamity, and the Pestilence which still rag[es] there, renders
it Dangerous to enter it at this Time, and the certain clamour which will be raised if
Congress are convened at any other place, renders it difficult for the
President to know what is best and most for the Good of the Country, & the safety of
its Members; without being much nearer, where a more accurate statement of Facts can be
assertaind.— The Philadelphians will complain & say there is no danger, tho at
Present their city is deserted of two thirds of its inhabitants
I received a Letter from Mrs otis a few days since. 3 she with her Family are at Bristol about 18
miles from the city, and were all well.
When I was at Providence I took Tea at the late Govenour Bowens.
they inquired kindly and particularly after you & your Family, and desired a
particular remembrance to you. 4
The President joins me in an affectionate remembrance to his old
Friend the Gen ll and to Mrs Warren both of whom it would
have given him pleasure to have Seen at Quincy.
I am dear Madam with sentiments of / Regard and esteem / Your
affectionate Friend
Abigail Adams