John Adams to Abigail Adams, 24 July 1775

Philadelphia July 24 th , 1775. 1

M y D ear ,

IT is now almost three Months since I left you, in every Part of which my Anxiety about you and the Children, as well as our Country, has been extreme.

The Business I have had upon my Mind has been as great and important as can be intrusted to [One] 2 Man, and the Difficulty and Intricacy of it is prodigious. When 50 or 60 Men have a Constitution to form for a great Empire, at the same Time that they have a Country of fifteen hundred Miles extent to fortify, Millions to arm and train, a Naval Power to begin, an extensive Commerce to regulate, numerous Tribes of Indians to negotiate with, a standing Army of Twenty seven Thousand Men to raise, pay, victual and officer, I really shall pity those 50 or 60 Men. 3

I must see you e–€™er long.–€”–€”Rice, has wrote me a very good Letter, and so has Thaxter, 4 for which I thank them both.–€”–€”Love to the Children.

J. A.

I wish I had given you a compleat History from the Beginning to the End of the Journey, of the Behaviour of my Compatriots.–€”–€”No Mortal Tale could equal it.–€”–€”I will tell you in Future, but you shall keep it secret.–€”–€”The Fidgets, the Whims, the Caprice, the Vanity, the Superstition, the Irritability of some of us, is enough to–€”–€”

Addressed To Mrs Abigail Adams Braintrie, 5 to the Care of Col. Warren, favor d by Mr. Hichborne.