John Adams to Richard Cranch, July 20, 1787

London July 20. 1787

My dear Brother

I have only the time to inform you, that this morning I am to Sett out, with My Wife
and Daughter, with her little Son, to See your Country of Devonshire.— The air of London
like that of Paris and Amsterdam, is in Summer, tainted to Such a degree, that all who
can possibly get out of it; fly it, like a Pestilence. M rs Adams, has for the last nine months been affected by this Climate, with Complaints that
are common in it, and is advised by her Physician and by all her Friends,
to make a Tour. it is not less necessary for M rs Smith. Nor
should I dare venture to Stay in London thro the Summer. We propose to see Plymouth,
Exeter Axminster &c— This will probably be the last Excursion, We Shall make, till
We bend our Course, to Braintree. I hope D r Tufts will buy
me, M r Tylers House: if not We shall return to the old
Place.— The Voyages that have been commenced in February have been so long and
distressing, that I shall not dare to expose my Family in their tender health, to embark
before the Spring Equinox.— We shall take our Passage in the first ship that Sails in
the latter End of March or beginning of April.

The Accounts We have of the Uneasy State of the Minds of our Countrymen: their
innumerable Projects, and fluctuating Politicks are perhaps more distressing to Us, than
they are to you who are on the Spot.— Are We all to become Champions and soldiers for a
Bowdoin or a Hancock, a Livingston or a Clinton, a Morris or a Franklin &C &c
&c. Is every State to have two or three families Scrambling for the first Place, and
the disposal of the Loaves and Fishes, and is every Body to be obliged to take his side,
and Scramble for one or the other.? Let Solon who compelled every citizen to take a Side
say what he will, I cant see the moral Obligation on any one to take a side in Such
Squabbles. if our Constitutions are Such as produce necessarily Such Contests, Let Us
correct and amend them. and if the People will not consent to such Amendments: but are
so in love with Blood and Carnage that they will have it, What shall We Say? It is no
new fault in the World. Most Nations have been infected with it, and have suffered
accordingly.— I Shall soon Send you a Volume of Romances, for Such you will think them,
tho they are true History, which Will show our People what they are about and what they
may expect.— 1 if they are determined to
go down the Precipice, it is fit they should see it, before they take the Leap and
prepare for Death.— For my own Part I am too old and feeble, to fight.— They must put me
to death for my Neutrality: for I will not be a Party Man. The Laws and their Defence,
must have my Wishes and all the little Efforts I can make in my own Way. But I will
neither be a Game Cock for Bowdoin nor Hancock, Lincoln nor Cushing. My Duties and
Affections where they are due

John Adams.