Hannah Cushing to Abigail Adams, 28 March 1800
Hannah Phillips Cushing to Abigail Adams
Middletown March the 28th. 1800:
Your sisterly kindness to me my dear Madam induces me to believe that to hear of our welfare will not be uninteresting to you. We were blessed with fine weather every day until the last from Newhaven here when the wind at NE produced a violent snow storm that night (the 28 of Feby) & the next day, when we considered ourselves very fortunate beings in arriving here before it took place. The dreaded Powleshook ferry I never crossed with less fear & indeed I can say the same of the other two.1 It was our intention to have staid here but a few days in expectation of reaching Boston while the frost remained in the ground; but one of our horses geting lame on the road has prevented it. We are now waiting for the roads to settle in some measure. The weather is now fine; if it continues we intend to proceed next week. However the days pass pleasantly away in the society of my relations, & in the renewal of friendships formed in youthful days. We got to New York the 22nd. but not in time to hear Dr Lin’s Oration: judging by what was said of it, it was in an elevated strain.2 Dr Dwights we expect to see as soon as it is printed. I shall be much disappointed if it is not a very good one.3 He avoided reading anything on the subject untill he wrote. I hope he was not unmindful, as too many others have been to remember mercies as well as judgments, & that unspeakable gratitude is still due to the Supreme ruler of the universe. We are assured from good authority that Mr Strongs Sermon was written after three OC— in the morning on the same day it was delivered; but he recollected that the spirit of Elijah rested on Elisha.4 I conclude you have been deprived of the society of Mrs Smith some time. I hope she enjoys good health & is comfortably situated. Please to remember my love to her. If the manuscript possessed by her, which you read to me upon what Females ought to be (not what they are said to be in Paris, & some I could name not a 1000 miles from us) is printed it would give me pleasure to be possessed of it. This day we had a pleasing sight of above 20 Vessels under sail coming up the river at one time. We hear very frequently from my brother.5 The accounts are flattering as to his health, & business— Mrs Stahl was so unwell when we left her that I took leave of her with an aking heart.6 I hope she has recover’d.
Mr Cushing joins me in grateful respects to the President & yourself, & in wishing health & happiness to attend you. A letter from you will be thankfully received by your friend
H Cushing
RC (Adams Papers).
1. A ferry across the Hudson River between Paulus Hook, N.J., and Manhattan had operated since 1764, and since 1799 it was utilized by Tuttle’s Federal Stage operating between Philadelphia and New York (William H. Benedict, “Travel across New Jersey in the Eighteenth Century and Later,” Proceedings of the New Jersey Historical Society, new series, 7:111, 117 [April 1922]).
2. Rev. William Linn of the Collegiate Dutch Reformed Church of New York, for whom see vol. 8:417, delivered a eulogy on George Washington before the New York chapter of the Society of the Cincinnati on the morning of 22 Feb. 1800. The oration extolled Washington’s “transcendent and inestimable worth” while at the same time noting that “flattery was ever confounded in the presence of Washington” (New-York Gazette, 21 Feb.; William Linn, A Funeral Eulogy, Occasioned by the Death of General Washington, N.Y., 1800, p. 10, No. 37834).
3. Yale president Rev. Timothy Dwight’s address on Washington was published as A Discourse, Delivered at New-Haven, Feb. 22, 1800; on the Character of George Washington, Esq., New Haven, 1800, No. 37339. Citing the late president’s intention to free his slaves upon his death as evidence of his character, Dwight said of Washington: “To Americans his name will be ever dear; a favour of sweet incense, descending to every succeeding generation” (p. 22, 29).
4. Rev. Nathan Strong of the First Church of Hartford, Conn., for whom see vol. 9:455, delivered a sermon on Washington on 27 Dec. 1799. Strong alluded to the biblical chapter 2 Kings, 2, in noting that JA carried on Washington’s legacy: “Under this bereaving event, there are but two grounds of consolation remain for us; the LORD who hath been our God, and the defender of our country is still on the throne; and he hath prepared an Adams to succeed our Washington; for we already see the spirit of Elijah resting on Elisha” (Nathan Strong, A Discourse, Delivered on Friday, December 27, 1799, … to Lament before God, the Death of Gen. George Washington, Hartford, Conn., 1800, p. 26, No. 38577).
5. Gen. George Phillips (1750–1802) was Cushing’s oldest brother. He was a merchant and former collector of customs in Middletown, Conn. (George Frederick Tuttle, The Descendants of William and Elizabeth Tuttle, Rutland, Vt., 1883, p. 694; , 3:354).