John Adams to Abigail Adams, February 22, 1799

Phyladelphia Feb. 22. 1799

My dearest Friend

Your last Letter, which I have rec d was
dated the 10 th. — I have one from M r Thomas at Brookfield of the 8 th. — 1 I hope your ill turn was soon over and that your
health is reestablished.

What the ultimate determination of our son will be I cannot
conjecture.— I would not overpersuade him. Phyladelphia is on many Accounts, a good
place. My Inclination as well as yours is for Quincy: his for Phyladelphia. Let him
determine.— If We were to live in Phyladelphia for many Years I should have less
Objection to his fixing here. We should enjoy his Conversation, some times. But this is
impossible.— I have no Idea that I shall be chosen P. a second time— tho this is not to
be talked of. The Business of the office is so oppressive that I shall hardly Support it
two years longer.

To night I must go to the Ball: where I Suppose I shall get a cold,
and have to eat Gruel for Breakfast for a Week afterwards. 2 This will be no Punishment.—

Since my nomination of Murray I have been advised by Some to name
my son John and M r King, with M r Murray. But I answer that the nomination of either M r King
or M r Adams would probably defeat the whole measure. 3 Rivalries have been irritated to madness
and Federalists have merited the sedition Law and Cobbet the Alien Bill— But I will not
take Revenge. 4 I dont remember that I was
ever vindictive in my Life. though I have often been very wroth. I am not very angry
now, nor much vexed or fretted. The Mission came across the Views of many and stirred
the Passions of more. This I knew was unavoidable. The Reasons which determined me are
too long to be written

J. A 5