William Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams, June 8, 1800
Washington City June 8 th 1800
My dear Aunt
The last letter I wrote you was from Frederick Town. 1 I should have written to you
more frequently, while on the road and sooner after our arrival in this
city, had it not been for the concourse of people, from the time of his , Start deletion, reaching , End, entering, till he left a house,
which continnually surrounded the P——t, and which, in this warm weather, was
infinitely more fatigueing than his journey. We arrived at Georgetown on
tuesday to dine. A large number of the citizens went out about four miles to
meet the P——t and escorted him into town, where his presence appeared to
give universal satisfaction. Yesterday a dinner was given by the inhabitants
of Georgetown, at which
were present nearly seventy gentlemen— 2 Joy and conviviality were the
order of the day. The President is highly gratifyed with the situation of
the city—finds the public buildings in , Start deletion, a , End, much greater forwardness than he expected. One wing of the
capitol is nearly compleated—a sufficient number of rooms in the Presidents
house, will no doubt be ready by the fall. 3 Some of the furniture is already
arrived and in the house.— The season here is, it is calculated, about a
fortnight earlier than in Philadelphia. Strawberries, which they have had in
very great abundance, are almost gone. We have had cherries, peas—beans
cucumbers, potatoes &c. ever since we came into town, none of which were
forced.— On thursday we dined at , Start deletion, General , End, Mr. Johnson’s—they are all very well and desire to be
affectionately remembered to you. Mr. Cranch returned from the court at
Annapolis yesterday. 4 He,
Mrs. Cranch & the children are all very well.— Gen. Marshall is at
Alexandria & is expected here, this day.— The probability is, that the
President will not leave this city for Philadelphia much before the 15 th. of this month—goes to Mount Vernon on
monday—the citizens of Alexandria meet him at the ferry & have invited
him to dine with them on Wednesday, as he returns, which he has
accepted. 5 No letters
have been received from you since you left N. York—we were however made very
happy by hearing that you had safely arrived at Quincy by B. Russels
paper. 6
In haste and with respect I am my dear Aunt / Yours
&c
W m S Shaw.