Abigail Adams to William Cranch, July 12, 1798

Philadelphia July 12 th [ 1798 ]

Dear sir

It was with much anxiety and concern that I learnt from mrs Johnson
the outrageous attack which was made upon you by mr duncanson, and the dissagreable
circumstance of your being Badly wounded. I hope however from What I yesterday heard
that the concequences of the wound will not prove so bad as was apprehended. mr
Greenleaf call’d yesterday to inquire what intelligence I had received. he spoke like a
friend and felt like a Brother I related to him the circumstances as detaild by the pen
of mrs Johnson who was exceeding iritated & hurt at the event. I wisht however to
See some person from whom I could lean the state of Parties and Character of the
persons— I applied to mr Stodard who conversed very fully with me and satisfied me, that
to steer between them requires great skill and management. No person would wish an other
to Speak in higher terms of approbation and praise of the Honour integrity impartiality
& concilitary disposition of an other than mr stodard did of my Nephew and mr
stodard if I justly estimate him possesses all those qualities him Self. it was very
ungentlemanly and Rascally to attack a Man merely for his being
Professionally engaged in the service of his attagonist the Law must decide upon the
Equity of the dispute between the Parties—

I cannot say but that I felt hurt that Mr Dalton should tender
himself as Bondsman— a respectable one he is and is therefore I trust the more honorable
security for the good behaviour of Duncanson , Start deletion, of whose
Party , End, to whom I hear he has attachd himself I know you too well to suppose you
can harbour any lasting Enimity and I trust you will as you have done stear as clear as
possible of all Paty animosity and bitteness, in all cases consistant with what You owe
to yourself, strive to heal animosities and soften Passions, to do good even to those
who despightly use you and Percecute you. I do not mean by this that the Law ought not
to have its full course and that as a Man unjuctly injured, you ought to have justice
done you.

I hope this will be Mrs Cranch—study also. where a city is divided
against itself, it must come to mine and it is to be regreeted that , Start deletion, at the commencment , End, of Private interest should So
embroil Friends and Neighbours. I lament that mrs Johnson should be fixt down in the
very focuse & Hot bed of dissention. I believe no part of America is so
circumstanced, having lived in a Country where one neighbour does not trouble an other,
nor even know them, it must be the more unpleasent to her— I would advise all my friends
to hear see & as far as possible to be silent

Whilst I am writing a Letter is brought me from mrs Johnson, with
the pleasing intelligence of your recovery so far as to think of sitting out upon a
jouney— 1 I hope you will not be too
soon; Some accounts have reachd this city of the affair. all of them criminate
duncanson— tho some say that he is really injured by mr L—— & R——

I received a Letter from your mother this morning the family were
well. I dared not in my last Letters hint the affair to her— 2 I shall now give her an account of it—

My Love to mrs Cranch tell her I hope Louissa will meet with as
kind a friend in Berlin as a reward for the interest her amiable mother takes in Mrs
Cranchs and your situation— I presume mrs Cranch will find a Mother & sisters in
your absence. I hope the Washington Family will be gratified with the cordiality which
subsists & has never known an interruption between the Late & Present President.
I assure you that the invitation will be cordially accepted, and a great relief it will
be to the President What can be the occasion of Thorntons animosity to the President. he
never injured or offended him— he is the only one of the three
who are not personally known— 3