Lucy Cranch Greenleaf to Abigail Adams, January 12, 1800

Boston Jan y. 12
1800.

I recieved my dear and ever honoured Aunt your kind
Letter of Dec r 18 th. and the Cap accompanying it, for both which I feel myself greatly obliged,
and beg you to accept my thanks— 1

I am glad to hear from Mama that your health is better
than it was the last winter. I hope the mildness of the season will assist
in confirming it— I never remember finer weather in Dec r. and Jan y. than we
have had. it is peculiarly favourable to us as wood was never so high as it
has been the three months past— we all my dear Aunt enjoy our health— our
little ones are all glee. the prattle of the one, and the smiles of the
other are our constant amusement; tell Caroline the next time she comes to
Quincy her Cousin Lucy will be quite a playmate for her— she can tell almost
as many stories as she could when she was last there—

Never was sorrow more universal nor more unfeigned than
that which has been expressed by all ranks of people, upon the melancholy
tidings, that Washington was no more— we feel as if one of the Capital
pillars of our Empire was crashed— may heaven support and give increasing
firmness to those that remain—

Will you present me affectionately to Mrs Smith and
Louisa. I have not seen Mrs Foster very lately. her Baby had grown
charmingly When I saw him last—

Mr Greenleaf presents his best respects to the President,
and to you my dear Madam—in which he is joined by your gratefully
affectionate, / Neice—

Lucy Greenleaf