Abigail Adams to William Cranch, December 3, 1797

Philadelphia December 3 d 1797

my Dear sir.

I had the pleasure of receiving from you a very excellent Letter
last week, 1 which fully proves that
neither your Patriotism, or abilities have sufferd any elimination by your engagements
in the ploding buisness of an accomptant, tho a course of years might have blunted the
Edge of literary persuits, which are much better suited to your Education, taste and
usefulness in Life. I rejoice therefore in your return to the Bar, and in the assureance
that you derive new pleasure in the persuit. Providence has kindly orderd, that every
step of improvement whether moral or Mental, should be attended with complaceney, and
that industery in laudible persuits should be a never failing source of
satisfaction. 2 I most sincerely wish
you a success, proportionate to your Merrits, and ample as Your wishes—

The calumny which has issued from many of our presses, unmolested,
and almost uncensured upon some of the wisest, best and most respected Characters in our
Country, is a disgrace to it. 3 both at
Home and abroad the Eyes of the whole World are upon us, and our Liberty, as well as
that of other Nations, is degenerated into licentiousness as shakspear expresses it,

[ “ ]No might nor greatness in Mortality

can censure scape,

back wounding calumny

The whitest virtue strikes, what power so strong

can tie the Gall up in the Slanderous Tongue”? 4

The observations which I made in a former Letter upon the
publications in the Washington Gazzet were designd to express the mistaken policy of the
Printer in giving an Antifederal Tone to it, and by that means injuring the reputation
of that Rising city, by disceminating poison through it, at its very Birth. I have the
best Authority to say, that the Chief Majestrate of the union wishes to see it prosper and succeed, nor do I believe that he will,
any more than his Predecessor, throw any obstical in the way of a Removal to it, at the
stated period, if it is then in a state to accommodate Congress and he should be in
office. for I can most sincerely assure you, that neither the President, or any of his
Family have any devotion to this city in preference to any
other but before complaints are utterd, Gentleman should determine what their real
object is. if this week one Scheme is offerd, the next retracted and an other brought
forward, and before that can be executed, revoked and a third offerd, it is necessary to
weigh them all maturely, that a consistant and decisive answer may be returnd. you have
the thanks of your Friends for the Hint given. I hope Congress will rise early enough in
the spring to give the President an opportunity of visiting the city before we go
Northward

I received your Letter with the inclosures and thank you for your
communications, and for the intelligence of mr Johnsons arrival which I read in the
paper just at the Time I received your Letter. I had a Letter from Quincy from your
Mamma on the same day. 5 they were all
well.

I inclose to you two papers one of them contains a peice from the
columbian Centinal addresst to the Bishop of Norwich. the other is a reply to it, under
the Signature of an English man, a very well written peice as you will perceive. I know
not the writer, but it is too good to pass unnoticed. the writer in the Centinal,
whoever he was, wrote like a Man zealous for the honour of his Country, but like a Man
who had never seen any other, and assumes too much. the Englishman tho candid writes
like a man who has not been beyond this state, certainly not as far Northward as Boston,
or he would not have past over our state House, and mentiond the new Bank building in
this city, as the only specimin of classick taste & knowledge in Building. the
Chaple tho Gothick without, is an other instance of fine Architecture. the Theater built
under the direction of mr Bulfinch is an other. 6 He ought also to be reminded, not to judge of a
Whole Country so extensive as America, by a single city where the Religious
establishment of Quakerism has given to every other denomination a tast which at least,
has an influence upon the Manners of the whole state, in preventing that liberality of
sentiment and that union harmony, and cordiality which is more Characteristic of the
Northern states than this. That America has not acquired any great taste for the fine
Arts, must be allowed when that day arrives, we shall be nearer a state of dissolution
than I hope we are at Present, but there has been too prevelant, and a
eager grasping after Property, an unbounded thirst for speculation, and a sacrifice of
Principle of Honour & of concience at the shrine of Mammon— if you think the
publications worth reprinting, they may at least keep out those which are less usefull.
be kind enough to return them to me when you have read them as I wish to preserve
them

Remember me kindly to Mrs Cranch. I feel her sorrows but it is her
duty to strive to overcome them. few of us but have a share, and some of the same
nature. I am sure I am not exempt

I write to you with the same freedom I should to a son and have the
same confidence in your honour cander and affection for next to my own Children there
are none Dearer to me than those of your Family. with sentiments of the / Sincerest
Regard / I am your affectionate / Aunt

Abigail Adams