John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, December 17, 1800

Washington Dec r 17 th 1800.

My dear Son

I have rec d this Evening
yours of the 14 th. — My little bark has been
oversett in a , Start deletion, Stor , End, Squal of Thunder and
Lightening and hail attended with a Strong Smell of Sulphur. Nothing remains
for me, but to indulge that Vanity which I have
found out lately is considered as the predominant feature in my Character,
by Singing the Song of Horace

Virtus repulsæ nescia Sordidæ

Intaminatis fulget honoribus

Nec Sumit , Start deletion, nec , End, aut ponit Secures

Arbitrio popularis Auræ. 1

The Soothing considerations Suggested by you, my dear Son
for the consolation of your Father, endear you to me more than ever. Indeed
every Letter I receive from you increases my Esteem for your Character, for
Understanding Discretion and benevolence. Be not concerned for me. I feel my
Shoulders relieved from a Burthen. The Short remainder of my days will be
the happiest of my Life. For my Children I consider my Retirement as a
favor. They will now have fair play. They never had an equal Chance with
their Comrades and never would have had, if I had continued in office. This
is my Solid opinion with regard to your Brother, yourself, and your Sister.
I shall write you more respecting your Brother, hereafter.

Pray M r Ingersol to Suspend
his Determination at least untill the third of March. The System will not be
changed till then. I may possibly have Some Message to Send by you to that
worthy Gentleman before March. The Law will be the Law under a new
Administration as well as under the old, and the Professors of it, while
they Adhere to that, will do well.

Your Mother and Louisa are gone to Mount Vernon. They
went off, to day, after Dinner, intending to rest this night at Alexandria.
Will return the day after tomorrow.

The melancholly decease of your Brother is an Affliction
of a more serious nature to this Family than any other. Oh! that I had died
for him if that would [have relieved him from his faults as well as his
disease]

I am, my dear Child your affectionate Father

John Adams