Mary Rutledge Smith to Abigail Adams, April 12, 1787

Charleston April the 12 th. 87

My dear Madam

I have the happiness to inform you that we are again settled, in Charleston, we had a
Passage of seven weeks, it was as you may suppose, disagreeable, it blew a heavy gale
for ten days, & the patience of every person on Board, was exhausted, except our
little Boy, who is both, by Sea, & Land, an excellent traveller. 1 When we left London, you intended a visit to
Bath, I hope nothing happened to prevent that agreeable excursion, there can be no
doubt, of your admiring, that part of the World, as it affords a most pleasing variety—
at present you are in a more desirable Country, than we are, Carolina wears a gloomy
face, nothing looks as it did twelve years ago, our inhabitants, are much to be pitied,
for they are in reality extremely poor, yet have an anxious desire, to appear other
wise. My Brother is one of the Delegates (appointed by this State) for the Federal
Convention, 2 many people are very
sanguine, in their expectations, from that assemblage, of wise Men, for my part, I shall
hold myself in readiness, to give them all that they may merit, but my hopes, have so
frequently fallen to the ground, that I have learned from experience, to wait patiently
for the event. If I am right in my conjecture, before this arrives, you will be a
Grand-mother, if so, you have my warmest congratulation, on the occasion, & I will
only say, that I most sincerely wish, that your amiable Daughter, may be as happy a
Parent, as she deserves to be— Caroline intends writing to Col l. Smith, as she
promised, & she cannot suppose, that he has forgot so important a matter, 3 Be pleased
to present our united respects, to M r. Adams, My Compliments
also, to those friends that we passed, many happy hours with under your hospitable Roof, where we received repeated acts of
kindness—for which I shall ever think myself indebted, & only regret, my dear Madam,
that, I can do no more than feel the obligation—but be
assured, it will ever be kept in remembrance—

I am my dear Madam / with the utmost esteem / Your very sincere friend

Mary Smith