Abigail Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, June 20, 1797

Philadelphia June 20 th 1797

my Dear Thomas

Your Friend Quincy is married, truly married and to a Nyork Lady,
by the Name of Morten, without Beauty and without Money, but amply compensated by the
accomplishments of her mind and the Virtues of her Heart, as I am informd, for I have
not the pleasure of knowing her. 1 Having
told you this peice of News, I shall proceed and would acknowledge the date of your last
Letter to me, but I undesigndly left it, with some others at Quincy. 2 that it was a good one I know, because no other
comes from your pen. your Last letter to your Father is dated the 17 th of March; I have an opportunity of communicating them to
some of our Friends here in Congress; the information which both your Brothers and your
Letters contain, is So accurate that great dependance is placed upon them; We are not a
little anxious to receive Letters of a more recent date, especially when our situation
becomes daily more critical, by the Hostile conduct of France. Much conquest has made
them Mad, as Festus said to Paul with respect to learning. 3 if Peace depend upon our Government, it will be
preserved. there is but one wish , it is, to avoid War—if it
can be done without Prostrating our National honour, or sacrificing our
independance.

Congress are in session. the speech of the President and the
answers of the two Houses I would inclose to you, but presume you will have them before
this reaches you, as well as two Bills which have passt both Houses, one for the
prevention of Arms and Amminition being exported, and an other to prevent citizens of
the united states Privateering against any of the powers

The People at large are thinking right, and I hope will act so.
there is said to exist in Congress a much greater diversity of opinion, than is to be
found without the Walls of that House

I inclose to you Govenour sumners speech that you may learn the
Temper of Massachusetts. 4

This state you know is always a Dead Weight. the interest of the
union is swallowd up in local interests. such a mass, but I forbear.

[ “ ]Ye powers divine

Who mark the movements of this nether world

And bring them to account! Crush Crush those vipers.

Who singled out by the community

To Guard their Rights, shall for a Grasp of ore

or Paltry office sell them to the foe” 5

I hope we shall be more fortunate in our future embassys to France
than we have been in some of the former appointments; the three Gentlemen who are now
united, will do every thing proper to accommodate the difference which subsist between
us— there will not be wanting however persons on this side the water, to represent the
Envoys as Enemical to France. nothing can be more false, but of that party. no Man would
have pleased them but a voilent Democrat.

Mr Murray will be arrived I trust before this will reach you. you
will proceed to England on your way Home. your Brothers new destination will I hope be
as agreable to him, as Lisbon, but his own pleasure will never be his object if
incompatable with the service of his Country; I hope he will Marry that he may have a
companion, or I fancy he will be more unwilling to part with you, and we want you here
very much.

Your Friend mr Bourn brought me the Watch safe. it is a very good
one— 6

I shall write you again soon as there are several opportunities
from this place.

I am my Dear son / Your ever affectionate / Mother

Abigail Adams