John Adams to Abigail Adams, January 1, 1799

Phyladelphia January 1. 1799

My Dearest Friend

I rec d to day your fav r of 24 and it made the day more tolerable. 1 Your health and Spirits always promote mine.

We have had more Company to Day than ever upon any Occasion. Thirty
or forty Gallons of Punch, Wine in Proportion and Cake in Abundance. The News by The
America Capt n. Jenkins arrived at Newbury Port made every
body gay but me. Not a Word of Thomas Boylston Adams. I shall be uneasy till I hear
further. He could not be so imprudent as to omit that opportunity.

You have an Admirable Faculty of employing your Mind.— And in the
Affairs of the farm materials for it.

I want my Talkative Wife, but fear, if she should attempt to come
here she would not talk farther than Worcester or Springfield. But my Wife, was too
studious and Addicted to scribbling to talk much to me when she was here.

Our People grow amazingly fearless & valiant in Proportion as
they hear the English beat the French: and that formiable Combinations are forming
against them by Turkey Russia Austria & England. I dont like this bravery which
grows in Proportion as Danger appears to lessen. I like that Fortitude which increases
as Danger grows, in a good Cause.—

The English have exhibited an amazing Example of skill and
Intrepidity, Perseverance and Firmness at sea. We are a Chip of that Block. And We could
do as We pleased at least as We ought upon the watery Element, if it were not that We
shall excite Jealousy in the English Navy. We
must however, Stand for our Right. We must adopt their Motto Dieu et mon Droit.

Pray desire D r Tufts to write to the
Eastward for twenty foot Posts for my Barn.— I have rec d his
Letter about Turell Tufts and shall attend to it. 2 His Letter is written in the hand of a young Man
of 25. yours forever & ever

J. A