Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, October 15, 1799
Germantown 15 th: October
1799
My dear Mother.
Your favors of the 5 th: &
7 th: curr t came
in course, and I am much indebted to you for the disposition you made of the
letters, which arrived, after my father’s departure. 1 I have lately rec d: several European letters & pamphlets
& ought to have received another with the letter you enclosed me from
M r: Pitcairn, in which he desires particular
respects to you. He acknowledges the receipt of my letter of June 28. which
contained the order for your bed quilts of edder down, but only upon the
back of a letter. I presume you will receive the quilts this winter. 2
For my last letter to my father; I mean the contents of
it, I got, as I anticipated, a rap or two across the knuckles, but very good humoredly, and
perhaps for my benefit. I thought it rather a saucy letter, but when I was
once mounted on the high ropes it was hard to get down again without a fair
swing. 3
A letter from JQA of the 16 th: August from Töepliz, a watering place, where he took his wife,
for the benefit of her health, says he had just
recovered from a severe intermittent fever, & expected to be there &
at Dresden, some time longer. He writes no news. 4
I am glad you are so well escorted on your journey,
though the weather has I think been unfavorable for travelling. When you
reach East Chester, if you should not see fit to send for me please to give
my love to Sister & the Col: and ask for a sword Cane I left there last
spring, with my Cypher on the top—perhaps it is at Charles’s in New York. I
have a little business at N.Y. but not enough to authorise the jaunt unless
you require it. My father has invited me to join him at Trenton, which I
shall probably do in a few days. 5
We have lost our Election by a considerable majority; so
says report, at least, and I believe it true. 6 My conviction of it before the
tryal took place was so strong, that I have won a beaver hat & pair of
half boots by the event, having wagered against my own Candidate. The chief thank fortune is off of the bench, so
that in addition to being well covered top & bottom, I shall have the
satisfaction of his paying for all the bows & scrapes I may be obliged
to make him as Governor.
The wear & tear of hat & sole leather is paid me
in advance. Such are my consolations for the loss of a very important
object, but I can safely say it was not my fault that it was not gained.
Present me kindly to all friends & believe me / Your
son
T. B Adams