John Adams to Abigail Adams, February 25, 1799
Phyladelphia Feb. 25. 1799
My dearest Friend
I have just rec d yours of 14 th. — it has laid in the Post office I suppose Since
saturday.
The subjects of M r J. Q. A.s Agents are
horrible to me. I will therefore dismiss them.
Thomas’s Predilection for Phyladelphia, I suppose will determine him.— Alass! Nelly is married poor Boy! 1 and I suppose some of the Six sisters will catch
the Child in the Trap without a Groat and without Connections! This is to be my fate,
throughout.— Three are gone already that Way—the fourth will go. blind thoughtless,
Stupid Boys & Girl—!
Frederic, Franklin and other Soidisant Phylosophers, insist that
Nature contrives these Things with others to reconcile Men to the thought of quitting
the World. If my Phylosophy was theirs I should believe that Nature cared nothing for
Men, nor their follies nor their Miseries, nor for herself.— She is a mighty Stupid
Wretch, according to them. a kind of French Woman, sometimes beautiful and clever but
very often diabolical. A kind of French Republic, cunning and terrible: but cruel as the
Grave and unjust as the Tempter and Tormentor.
I believe nothing like this of Nature; which to me is a Machine
whose Author and conductor is wise kind and mighty. Believing this I can acquiesce in
what is unpleasant expecting that it will work out a greater degree of good. If it were
possible that I should be mistaken, I at least shall not be worse than these profound
Phylosophers. I shall be in the same case hereafter, and a little, a great deal better
here.
The Report, was not at last as it should have been: But it is very
different from the Report made to me. I Scratched out, a little.— I wanted no Report. in
short it is one of those Things, that I may talk of, when I see you.— After I sent that
Report to Congress, I rec d a Letter, which has favoured M r Gerrys opinion and made against the Report— I have
instituted a new Mission: which is kept in the dark, but when it comes to be understood
will be approved. 2 Oh how they lament
M rs Adams’s Absence!— she is a good Counseller! If she had
been here Murray would never have been named nor his Mission instituted! This ought to
gratify your Vanity enough to cure you. Love to Thomas, Brothers Cousins &c Louisa
especially
J. A