William Cranch to Abigail Adams, March 12, 1798

Washington March 12 th. 1798

Dear Madam

After a most fatigueing journey I arrived on friday Evening. I
travel’d all the first night, & arrived in Baltimore the next night at 9 o Clock, & sat off again at 3 the next morning. The roads
as far as Wilmington were extremely bad, the rest were much better, and in this City
they are quite settled. I found M rs. Cranch well, altho’
fatigued & worried with watching and attending my little William, who had been
dangerously ill with a fever which the Doct r. thought was
pleuretic, but had that day begun to mend. He is now, I hope, recovering. Richard,
too, had been ill a few days with a bad cold.— William had not taken the least notice
of anything for several days before my return, but on my going up to him he held up
his little emaciated arms for me to take him, & held his face to be kiss’d. He has
been trying to run about, to day, but he is took weak to get across the Chamber
without falling.

Yesterday (Sunday) the weather was uncomfortably warm, so that we
wanted the windows open— But at night we had a thunder shower, and to day it is
freezing.—

I was much shock’d on my return at being inform’d of the sudden
death of Col o. W. Deakins of Geo. Town. 1 He was almost the only man of real
respectability and influence on whose active friendship I could place dependence. He
knew all the Circumstances of my situation, and I had always applied to him for advice
and assistance in every important occurrence of my life, since my residence here. I
had look’d up to him, almost as to a parent, & had received from him almost
parental kindness. Amidst a sordid world, he is almost the only man I have met with
here whose actions seem’d to flow from the impulses of his heart—and yet he was so far
engaged in Business, that he supported almost the whole commerce and Credit of
Georgetown and it’s vicinity. He left no children, but he has left a thousand
mourners. There was no man in this neighbourhood so universally love’d and respected.—
I think I mentioned him to you at Philadelphia.—

I have seen M r Dalton’s family since
my return. I ask’d M r. D. if he would accept the office of Commissioner of
this City, if a vacancy should happen. He said he was now out of business & would
accept if he should be appointed, but there was no probability of a vacancy. He also
said that it would not be in his power to accept any office out of this State at
present, as there were some demands on the House of Lear & C o , on which he might perhaps be arrested should he remove from hence. 2

I have been inform’d that M rs. Peter
(whose name was Custis a Grand-daughter of M rs. Washington) said that the President had done a very unpopular thing in refuseing to go to the Ball at Ricketts’s on the 23 d. ult o. —and that she spoke it
with a little warmth. It was also said by the person who gave me this information
that, that family (the Custis’s) were very jealous of any praise bestowed upon the
present President, as tending in some measure to detract from the merits of his
Predecessor. You may remember that I mentioned a Coolness between M rs. D & M rs. Peter &
M rs. Law. This must be taken into Consideration when the
force of those Expressions is weighed.—

I have seen the Knoxville Gazette of feb y. 2 d. containing a great deal of inflamatory
stuff, & replete with the seeds of sedition and rebellion. I laid it by with an
intent to forward it to you, but it is lost. There were 4 or 5 Columns, pretending to
a great deal of Philosophy & moderation, but tending to flatter & inflame the
people of Tenesee; and also a letter from Judge somebody (I forget the name) to their
members of Congress, & letters from the members to their Constituents. 3

In the Virginia Gazette, are also N o. 1 & 2 of an Answer to Scipio. I have seen only N o. 1.— 4 If you wish to see it & can
not procure it in Philad a. I will endeavour to send
them.

M rs. Cranch presents her most
affectionate Respects to you & Love to Louisa.— Believe me with greatest Respect
for the President & yourself, most sincerely & affectionately / your obedient
servant & obliged Nephew

W. Cranch.

My Comp ts. to M r. Malcom.—