Adams Papers
Documents filtered by: Recipient="Adams, Abigail"
sorted by: relevance
Permanent link for this document:
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/04-08-02-0150

Abigail Adams Smith to Abigail Adams, 5 October 1788

Abigail Adams Smith to Abigail Adams

Jamaica, October 5th, 1788.

My Dear Mamma:

I wrote you a hasty letter from New-York, just to acknowledge the receipt of yours, No. 5, the week before last;1 since which I have not heard from you, nor have I had an opportunity to write.

* * * * * * *

Pennsylvania has already appointed her Senators, who are Mr. Morris and a Mr. McLain.2 Poor —— is, then, disappointed; for he went home to make interest for himself, as it was said.

There are two gentlemen,—the one I mentioned in a former letter from the southward, and the other from your State, who is now in Congress,—who are looking for foreign appointments.3 We are all content that they should receive what they desire, for no one who has been abroad could, I think, wish to go again, knowing how matters must be situated.

Professions are much easier made than fulfilled, especially in these days when barter is the fashion. The maxim of the present time is, “if you can be of service to me in promoting my views, I will give you my assistance in yours.” Fear oftener actuates to friendly offices, than love. But I am not surprised at these things, for I am vain enough to think I can see as far into persons’ characters, sentiments, and the motives which direct their conduct, as most ladies of my age and experience.

I may, sometimes from delicacy, at others from pride, suppress my opinions; but I flatter myself that in many cases I think right.

My father’s idea of returning to the bar, (unless he is placed, as he ought to be, in a situation agreeable to himself,) is what I should expect from him, knowing his sentiments as I do; and unless the idea militates with his feelings, I can see no more respectable situation in private life, and no one so independent either in public or private, as he would establish himself in; for I presume the smaller parts of the practice would be wholly excluded by him, and left to young practitioners. It is a profession which I do venerate, and hope one day to see all my brothers, if it is their choice, to pursue this profession, making respectable figures in it. And, if it is not looking too far forward, I would hope that my son might yet become a pupil of his grandfather’s. Ever since I have thought at all upon the subject, it has been my opinion that the study of law tends more to mature the judgment, and establish the right character of the man, (provided there are proper principles for the foundation,) than any other profession. There are men without principles in every profession. I do not think that the ill conduct of individuals ought to lessen the respectability of the profession they have made their study, although it may in the minds of some persons have this tendency.

The recent instance of perfidy and unheard of atrocity, which you mention in your letter, and which has made much talk this way, ought to brand with infamy the name and character of the author. Yet it seems hard that innocent persons, if there are any such connected with him, should suffer in their characters and reputations, by their affinity to this fiend of wickedness. This family seems devoted to misfortune of every kind, but I think that this instance must be the criterion of them.

My friends must have thought me very inattentive to them, if they have not yet received my letters. I have answered very punctually almost every letter I have received. It is a great amusement to me, writing to my friends at this distance. I do not find that time lessens the painfulness of a separation from our friends; it is only alleviated by this intercourse by letters. You have been very good in writing me, and yet when I do not get a letter for several weeks, I begin to grow impatient. You must not omit any opportunity of affording me this source of satisfaction.

I am much obliged by your request to have my dear boy with you this winter; but this is a separation I cannot think of. He is a great amusement to me, and becomes daily more engaging.

Your affectionate daughter,

A. Smith.

MS not found. Printed from AA2, Jour. and Corr. description begins Journal and Correspondence of Miss Adams, Daughter of John Adams,... Edited by Her Daughter [Caroline Amelia (Smith) de Windt], New York and London, 1841–[1849]; 3 vols. description ends , 2:101–104.

1Neither AA’s letter to AA2 nor AA2’s reply has been found.

2William Maclay (1737–1804), a lawyer and judge of the court of common pleas in Pennsylvania, served in the U.S. Senate from 1789 to 1791. Robert Morris (1734–1806) served until 1795 then declined renomination (Biog. Dir. Cong. description begins Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774–1989, Washington, 1989. description ends ).

3The representative “from the southward” is possibly Abraham Baldwin, for whom see AA2 to AA, 13 Aug. 1788, and note 1, above. The Massachusetts representative is likely Samuel A. Otis, who wrote to JA on 18 Dec. seeking a position: “The Clerk of the Senate or of the House would give me subsistence for ’I want but little.’ . . . If I fail in both these, I think I could discharge the office of Collector of excise Naval officer, or the active offices at home or abroad, for I am a ’Citizen of the world’ litterally” (Adams Papers; see also Smith, Letters of Delegates description begins Letters of Delegates to Congress, 1774–1789, ed. Paul H. Smith and others, Washington, 1976–2000; 26 vols. description ends , 25:445–446, 470, 474). Otis became secretary of the Senate and served from 1789 to 1814 (Sibley’s Harvard Graduates description begins John Langdon Sibley, Clifford K. Shipton, Conrad Edick Wright, Edward W. Hanson, and others, Biographical Sketches of Graduates of Harvard University, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Cambridge and Boston, 1873–. description ends , 14:478–480).

Index Entries