Abigail Adams to William Smith, November 21, 1797

Philadelphia Nov br 21. 1797

Dear sir

I received your obliging favour of Nov br 8 th the day after I last wrote you. I inclose
the amount of your account with many thanks for your kindness— 1

The Betsy is arrived with the fish, and if my cook can be taught
to dress it, some of our Nothern Friends shall Toast your Health. 2

The state of N Jersey as you observe, most certainly manifested a
very marked respect and approbation of the Government by the unfeigned, and
affectionate reception which they gave to the President, some personal instances could
not fail of impressing the Heart.

It was oweing to a mistake in the post office, that the
invitation to dine at Trentown on the 9 th was not
received, and accepted. I was sorry for the dissapointment, as the Legislature were
sitting, and the Dinner prepared. The Govenour of the state with a numerous concourse
of Persons, and a Troop of Light Horse met us 6 miles from Trentown, to accompany us
into Town— The President stoped and deliverd his answer to the address— I past on and
crossd the Ferry, in about half an hour. the whole procession came to the Ferry, and
waited on the opposite side untill the President reachd the Pensilvanna side
accompanied by the Govenour the Marshal and several officers, where they took an
affectionate Leave of us— 3 if the
publick were to judge of our reception here by Ben Baches account of it, they might
suppose that we were deliverd over to satan to be buffetted by his imps so far as it
respects that contemptable Hireling. it is true, but Pensilvanna at no time, can bear
a comparison with N England in their Militia, clogd as they are by the spirit of
Quakerism and cursd as they are by the spirit of Jacobinism. they are a House divided
against itself. the greater Number of their officers, I have the Authority of their
Marshal for it, are taken from the lowest grade of Society. few of them can read or
write, and are Popular demagogues who can procure votes for a Govenour, by mixing with
the Herd. to do them all the justice they deserve, on this occasion, they made as good
an appearence as they could. they were well clad and mounted. 4 there is a Triumvirate of Printers in Boston N
york and Philadelphia who richly deserve that French
Freedom and Liberty which has been excercised
against 18 or 20 Printers in France— 5

since I wrote you last we have reason to think that both mr
Marshal & Gerry are arrived. no offical account of mr Gerry, yet report thus
states it— no senate yet formed. our Weather is very cold for November. if there
should be any quantity of good oats to be sold this fall as low as 2 shillings or two
and 4 pence, will you be so good as to take a Hundred Bushels and send our people word
to come for them. in the spring they are scarce—

my best Regards to all Friends / affectionatly yours,

A Adams—

inclosed is 60 dollors please to pay the overpluss to mrs smith
for sundries she has against me