Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, July 21, 1787

Boston July 21 d 1778 [ 1787 ]

My Dear Sister

The Day—the mighty Day is over, & our Sons have perform’d their Parts—&
receiv’d the Honour of the college in a manner which will do them credit while they
Live— never did you see two Happier Faces than theirs when they return’d from meeting— I
do not believe they will ever feel so happy again— If to excell where all did well—can
give pleasure your Son must feel a peculiar one. He has a faculty of throughing
expresson into his countinance beyond any person I ever met with— I was not in the
meeting house, but I am told that he excell’d in his manner every one who ever Spoke in
it—The performences of the Day are said by every one to have been the best composition,
& the best spoken of any since the universitys were created—

Every thing was conducted in our Chambers with the greatest order & regularity— Mr
Beals who lives on our place at Weymouth had the whole care of delivering out drink
& we had uncle Smiths Primus—& a Black Servant of cousin Will m. Smiths & our Pheby to attend the Tables— 1 she was exceeding useful to me after dinner in
washing up the Dishes & clearing the Tables we had two chambers one for the Tables
& the other for our company to Sit in. We made no Tea but had cake & wine
carried about in stead of it which sav’d us a great deal of trouble

We din’d above a hundred People & treated with cake & wine above four hundred I
am very certain we were honour’d after Dinner with the company of His excellency the
Governer & L—— Gov r. & a number of the Senate—The
Resident Professor & Tutors, who all came to congratulate us— In short I had enough
to do to set & receive the congratulations of our Friends & acquaintance I most
sincerly wish’d you with me to have taken your share— We were not only congratulated
that we had a son & Nephew who had done themselves such Honour, that day but that
they had sustain’d such amiable good characters during their residence at college— I had
as much small Talk to do as their Majestys upon a presentation day—but they never felt
half as much pleasure your sons all felt like my own & I presented them as my
adopted ones till your return & proud enough I am of them—

Although we had so much company we had enough & to spair of every thing we made
28 lb of Flower into cake & fine Plumb cake it was. I sent mrs Hall a nice one & several of our
common Frinds a slice who could not attend. I hope I have given general satisfaction to
all our Freinds we ask’d general Palmers Family two days before commencment they took it
into their Heads to be mift because they were not invited sooner & would not come,
but if they knew how little I car’d & how little notice I should take of such
unreasonable affronts they would keep them to themselves. Cousin Polly poor girl is not
long for this world I believe. she fails very fast— 2 The rest of the Family are well. The general is
very busy erecting large salt Works upon the neck— I hope they will answer his
expectations.—

To add to my happiness callahan arriv’d two days before Commencment & brought me an
account of your being better than my imagination represented you. I long more than ever
for your return—You must take more care of your health these complaints of yours are
hard to be cur’d— I have suffer’d much in the same way for the two last years but have
injoy d. my health finely sinc last summer till this ugly
cold I have now got I was sick enough to have been upon the Bed on Wednesday but I got
thro better than I expected too, & am going home this afternoon to be nurs’d up
& to rest a little.—

I rejoice to hear of the Safety of my Niece & her little one. I hope her health is
perfectly restor’d by this time. pray give my Love to her & to little master &
tell him to grow firm enough to receive a hearty Squeeze from his great Aunt when she
sees him— If Coll n Smith is returnd tell him I had the
pleasure of Coll n. Humphrys company at our chamber on
Wednesday last. That he talk’d of his Friend & that we both wish’d him & indeed
all of you with us. The Coll. has promis’d to make us a visit at Braintree with Coll.
Hull, Who is a great favourite of mine & Elizas. mrs Hull has just got to Bed with
her fourth child 3 I have lately been to
see them

I have again to thank you for your kind presents to our children They have not time to
write by this conveyence, but will soon but my sister why did you procure such costly
Scandles. I fear it will not be in character for them to wear them. The maker has
mortified them in the length of them for they cannot possible wear them. I wonder what
kind of Feet he thought we had in america. I have not seen the chintz but dare say it is
pretty. I believe we should have made up our silks if it had not have been for the
peculiarty of the times but we did not think it prudent to do it— To say I thank you for
all your goodness to us will not express half what I feel— I have receev’d the wastcoats
& the linnen for cousin Tom we have not yet made up the fine Piece you sent him
before, but are making some for him of the
coarser Piece you sent by Scot. he will want them for winter & we thought if best to
make it of this because the frost would not cut it as if it was finer, & we can only
make him just enough for present wear he grows so fast— I shall fix cousin JQ.A well
with every thing to last him till the spring. he will lay by his shirts & other
matters that will require much mending till he makes us a visit— I wish to have it all
done here but some little matters must be done there

Sister Shaw & Sister Smith have both been with us but are return’d without going to
Braintree. Sister Shaw looks very well for her—her children are well—but the Sickness
prevails yet but it is not so mortal as it has been—

I was call’d off just now to your Friend mrs Rogers for the first time since she
return’d. her health is poor. she rejoices to hear from you & mrs Smith hop’d for a
Letter sends her Love—

I must leave a thoussand things to say for the next vessel as mr cranch is waiting to
put a Packet a Board Folger mr cranch is much gratified with his Letter, thanks you will
write as soon as he has time

tell Coll n Smith he must not live in new york. we cannot
spare my Niece & her little Family—& Grandmamma will not be able to do it I am
sure

My Love to mr. Adams—as to you my sister I know not how to bid you adieu— may God
preserve you & bring you once more safe to my arms— This is the constant Petition of
you / affectionate Sister

M Cranch