John Adams to Abigail Adams, May 26, 1794

Philadelphia May 26. 1794

My dearest Friend

I shall inclose with this, some Letters between Randolph and Hammond which will shew you how quarelsome they are. 1 Poor Fellows! They both desire Peace, but think themselves obliged to wrangle for their Countries.

It is fashionable to charge Wars upon Kings: but I think Le Peuple souvereign is as inflamable, and as proud and at the Same time less systematick, uniform & united: so that it is not so easy for them to avoid Wars. We have laboured very hard to preserve our Tranquility: but the Peuple souvereign is continually committing some Intemperance or Indiscretion or other tending to defeat all our Precautions. if We are involved in a War, my head heart and hands shall be guiltless of the Crime of provoking it. But it will be my Duty to Submit to the Legal Voice & Decree of my Country.

We have fine Rains here, for three days past, and I hope you enjoy a similar Blessing

I shall take Leave on saturday 31. of May: but cannot hope to get home before the 10 or 12 th of June. The Journey lies before me, like a Mountain— I am too old and too feeble for these long Journeys, dry sessions and uncomfortable Scænes— I am at an Age when I ought to be at home with my Family.

I Sent 600 dollars to John last Week, which is our whole Allowance till september. 2

I wish you an agreable Election. Who will be Lieutenant Governor Gill or Gerry?

I wrote to D r Willard, sometime ago a Resignation of the Chair of the Academy of Arts and sciences.— It would be a farce for me to hold it any longer. 3

My Duty to my Mother— Tell my Brother that I Suppose he was for War to make himself popular: but I am very sorry to find that warlike sentiments are popular in Quincy. I am glad he is chosen however and hope he will get our Town back to the County of Suffolk.

Adieu— My dearest Friend Adieu

J. A.