Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, August 8, 1799

Philadelphia 8 th: August 1799.

My dear Mother.

As I am in the City for a few days, you may wish me to write rather
oftener than usual, to convince you that I am not ill. The weather since the month of
June has been generally more than commonly favorable for this climate— it still
continues so, and we begin to flatter ourselves that the City may escape the afflicting
scourge it has heretofore experienced.

The mortality which lately prevailed on board the friggate Gen l: Green, was a very distressing affair— I lament it
the more, as I see among the list of victims in the crew several names of persons with
whom I made a slight acquaintance, when I was at Newport. 1

You will have read the publication for which the Aurora-man has
been bound over to appear & answer at the next district Court. It was republished by
Brown & Relf in the Philad a: Gazette of the [. . .]
curr t: — His defence, will, I understand, be an attempt to
prove the tr[uth] of what he has asserted— The letter under
the hand of John Adams is said to be one in which the
subject of his recall from the mission in England & M r: Pinckney’s appointment as Successor, was spoken of & animadverted upon with freedom—
The partition of Braintree into three separate & distinct townships, bearing several
names and the calling that Quincy in which he resides, is jocosely mentioned in the same
letter as having deprived the Duke of his title. I
collected these particulars in conversation, a few minutes ago, with a young man, who is
in the secrets of the Aurora party, from being one of its patronizers— Truth, said
another, of the same sett to me, is no libel— the Aurora man means to justify by proof
of the facts alledged. 2

I was told further, by the first of these youth’s, that it looked
as if there was likely to be a division in the Cabinet— How so? said I— They say, the
old gentleman wont go with them— with whom? Why the violent war party, that pretends to
dictate all Executive measures— It is further said, continued he—that the violents are
in despair, because the President will have an opinion of his own & will not follow
the extravagances of any body. If he perseveres he will shortly
have the hearts of all the democrats— God forbid! I exclaimed— I dont mean said
he, that the P——t must turn democrat, but only if he acts Independently— Has he ever
done otherwise—said I— No, but then we were not always sure of him so much as we are
now. This pap & sugar, might do to pacify a crying hungry baby, but what else it is
good for, I pretend not to know.

Report says that Truxtun has resigned—disputing precedence with
Talbot— This, I suppose, is in part, the tale, which you told me, hung upon the report
of Talbots resignation— I heard yesterday, the matter had been referred to the President
& he had decided in favor of Talbots right— 3

You accompanied the P——t, I perceive, to Castle William and
assisted at the Baptismal rites of Fort Independence— I was rejoyced to see your name in
company with M rs: Washington— 4

I find the Mansion house in Market Street a very comfortable resort
when I come to town, even though I meet but poor cheer—even the water pump is dry in the
yard— I believe some of the wood has been carried away, though not much— I shall take
particular care of the things I use, & see every thing as secure as I found it.

There is a leak somewhere in the room that serves as a passage from
the entry to the kitchen— I found the floor almost covered with water, and as I have no
keys to the doors, I cannot open them to admit the air— I have left open the inner
doors, which were shut, and the floor is gradually drying, though the next rain will
probably wet it again— Dust & Cobwebs are plentiful enough—

Present me kindly to my father & every body—

T. B. Adams.

August 10 th: 1799.

P S. The Supreme Court of the U. S. adjourned this day— Little
business was done, because there was little to do— I paid my respects to the chief
Justice & Judge Chase, but the latter I did not see. 5