Abigail Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, March 22, 1801

Quincy monday morg 22 March 1801

my dear Thomas

I have not written you a line since my return to Quincy. I have
found full employ to get my House in order, and my Family arranged, against your Fathers
return; which Was on Wednesday last; we have all once more assembled at the old
Habitation in Safety; Without any accident, except to myself. I unfortunatly, got my
foot in a hole in one of the carriages as I was getting out; and fell through, by which
misfortune one of my Legs was terribly bruized; and I renderd incapable of walking. Some
straw was laid over the bottom of the carriage, so that the hole was hiden; and I broke
through, Wounding me sadly; it was the day before I reachd home, so that I have been
enabled to Nurse, and take care of it: it was a fortunate circumstance that I did not
break my Leg, and came off, With only bruizing me to pumice

I am now in 12 days able to Walk about without much inconvenience.
I paid the money you sent by me to dr Tufts, and inclose his receit. 1 as the Equinox is now past, and a terrible one
it has been; raining and blewing, for ten days, So that I have seen but one sun shine
day, since my return to Quincy, now 12 day’s— I would have You get Fowler to send the
carriage on board the first good vessel bound to Boston. I must request your care also
to take a Bill of lading and agree for the freight, any expence attending, you shall be
paid, upon notice— 2

as to news—We have not any. all seem to be lulld to quiet rest, by
the song of the Syren— B Russel puffing up the Composition as a model of correct writing and eloquence I however conceive it to have,
more of duplicity than sincerity Since I read a coppy of a Letter, which W shaw is
possessd of, I believe the writer to have given countanance to the most unfounded
assertions respecting his Predecessor. if he believed what he wrote; it is but one
proof, amongst many others, that he knew not the Character, he thus abused, and that his
knowledge of Men, is Superficial as I believe his administration Will show— 3

Your Father was as much moved as I was respecting the franking; the
Jacobins overshot their mark by publishing the nature of the Bill; the Same Error was
committed respecting Gen’ ll Washington. mr otis coppied the
resolution as it stood, but did not attend to its being afterwards
alterd. When your Father saw the comment in the paper: he told mr secretary otis, that
he would never sign the Bill. this led to an examination, and to an alteration. 4 the thing was not designd—so that my , Start deletion, Family , End, Children may in the course of a Year, be
benifited by means of their Fathers having been President of the United States to the Prodigious sum, and amount of
Ten or twelve dollars—!!!— tell it not in Gath—whilst they have been the loosers, I
doubt not of thousands 5

give us, my dear Thomas the pleasure of hearing from you often as
you can. Striped of all of you, and william must soon leave us; I know not how your
Father or I shall feel; We will go to Farming and Gardning

What a Jewel of a Letter has your Brother written to your father.
how accurately, yet how candidly has he judged of Men and measures? What comforting
argument does he use to reconcile us to the ingratitude of the world— 6

God preserve his Life and health and continue him a blessing to his
Family and an honour to his Country; which however is unworthy of him—

my dear Thomas adieu— I must go below and make my pudding—

most affectionatly / your Mother

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